The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The Board found no current left knee disability, and the Veteran's deviated nasal septum was not manifested by complete obstruction on one side or 100% obstruction of both sides. For PTSD, the symptoms did not meet criteria for a higher rating. For bilateral hearing loss, there was no evidence of more than Level II hearing in either ear.
The deciding factor: The preponderance of the evidence showed that the Veteran does not have current left knee disability and his deviated nasal septum did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating under DC 6502. The PTSD symptoms were found to be no more than occupational and social impairment with occasional decrease in work efficiency and intermittent periods of inability to perform occupational tasks, which do not warrant a higher rating. For bilateral hearing loss, there was no evidence of more than Level II hearing in either ear.
- Claimed conditions
- Left Knee Disability, Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Bilateral Hearing Loss
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- April 2, 2015
- Citation
- 1514352
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. Search VA.gov for the original decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 1514352.
What this means for you
A final Board denial may be appealed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, generally within 120 days of the Board mailing date. A Supplemental Claim with new and relevant evidence is a separate option. Another Higher-Level Review of the Board decision is not available. Check your own notice: this historical decision does not set your deadline.
What you can do next
Use your own notice and decision stage. A remanded issue is not a final court-appealable denial. VA review guidance and CAVC filing instructions (U.S. federal; reviewed October 7, 2026).
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD is granted as the evidence shows a current diagnosis of PTSD, an in-service stressor, and a medical link between the two.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Veteran's service-connected knee disabilities are rated at 10% each, and the Board finds that higher ratings are not warranted based on the evidence of record.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 50% since March 23, 2004. The Board found that a higher rating is not warranted prior to February 15, 2005 due to the severity of his symptoms and their impact on his social and occupational functioning.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and any acquired psychiatric disorder, finding that there was no evidence to support a link between his current mental health conditions and his military service.
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