The Veteran's PTSD has been granted a higher initial rating of 70 percent, effective March 5, 2012. Service connection for tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, sleep apnea, migraines, back injury, and residuals of left ankle/foot injury have also been established.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's service-connected PTSD was found to be productive of symptoms that meet the criteria for a higher initial rating of 70 percent. Service connection for tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, sleep apnea, migraines, back injury, and residuals of left ankle/foot injury were also established based on credible evidence of in-service noise exposure.
- Claimed conditions
- Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Bilateral Hearing Loss, Tinnitus, Sleep Apnea, Migraines, Back Injury, Residuals of Left Ankle/Foot Injury
- How they argued it
- Presumptive (no nexus needed)
- Exposure basis
- Burn pits / airborne hazards
- Rating assigned
- 70%
- Decision date
- December 4, 2015
- Citation
- 1550908
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 1550908.
What this means for you
A grant means the Board agreed the veteran was entitled to the benefit. Decisions like this show the kind of evidence and arguments that tend to succeed for claims like it.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are not related to his military service.
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