The Veteran's right ear hearing loss was noted at enlistment, and the VA examiner opined that it did not worsen during service. The left ear hearing loss is not shown in service or for many years thereafter. Tinnitus is also not shown in service or for many years thereafter. Prior to February 27, 2012, PTSD was manifested by occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas, including difficulty adapting to stressful circumstances and inability to establish effective relationships. From February 27, 2012, the Veteran's PTSD is manifested by total occupational and social impairment. The Veteran had a single service-connected disability (PTSD) prior to February 27, 2012, which precluded him from maintaining gainful employment. As of February 27, 2012, the Veteran has a 100% rating for PTSD, making the issue of TDIU moot.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's right ear hearing loss was noted at enlistment and not worsened during service. The left ear hearing loss is not shown in service or for many years thereafter. Tinnitus is also not shown in service or for many years thereafter. Prior to February 27, 2012, the Veteran had a single service-connected disability (PTSD) which manifested as occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas, including difficulty adapting to stressful circumstances and inability to establish effective relationships. From February 27, 2012, the Veteran's PTSD is manifested by total occupational and social impairment. As of February 27, 2012, the Veteran has a 100% rating for PTSD, making the issue of TDIU moot.
- Claimed conditions
- Right Ear Hearing Loss, Left Ear Hearing Loss
- How they argued it
- Presumptive (no nexus needed)
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- August 8, 2014
- Citation
- 1435367
This is a plain-language summary generated by AI from a public Board of Veterans’ Appeals decision. It can contain errors — always verify against the original. Look up the original decision on VA.gov (opens in a new tab) using citation 1435367.
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Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for right ear hearing loss and a compensable rating for left ear hearing loss, finding that there was no evidence to support these claims based on in-service noise exposure or other theories.
- Granted
The Veteran was granted a TDIU with a September 19, 2024 effective date based on his PTSD, emphysema, and COPD symptoms. His diabetes, tinnitus, and left ear hearing loss were not found to prevent him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation prior to March 19, 2024.
- Denied
The Veteran's right ear hearing loss disability was not incurred in service and is less likely than not caused by noise exposure during his military service.
- Denied
The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not prevent him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation prior to August 31, 2020.
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