The Board finds that the Veteran does not meet the criteria for service connection for a psychiatric disability, including PTSD, and left ear hearing loss. The evidence does not support a diagnosis of PTSD based on fear of hostile military or terrorist activity, and there is no combat experience to establish service connection under 38 C.F.R. § 3.304(f). Service connection for the Veteran's psychiatric disability and left ear hearing loss is denied.
The deciding factor: The evidence does not meet the criteria for a diagnosis of PTSD based on fear of hostile military or terrorist activity, as required by revised 38 C.F.R. § 3.304(f)(3). The Veteran did not engage in combat with the enemy and his psychiatric disability is not service-connected under direct service connection.
- Claimed conditions
- Psychiatric Disability, Left Ear Hearing Loss
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- March 15, 2016
- Citation
- 1610481
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 1610481.
What this means for you
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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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the onset and causation of the Veteran's OSA. The AOJ is required to obtain an addendum opinion from a qualified examiner to address these issues.
- 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 service-connected disabilities did not prevent him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation prior to August 31, 2020.
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