The Veteran's service connection for left hearing loss is granted, and his PTSD disability rating is increased to 70 percent. The TDIU claim is also granted.
The deciding factor: Service connection was established for the Veteran's left ear hearing loss as a result of noise exposure during military service. His PTSD disability rating was increased based on current manifestations of symptoms indicative of occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas such as work, school, family relations, judgment, thinking, and mood.
- Claimed conditions
- left hearing loss
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 50%
- Decision date
- April 1, 2016
- Citation
- 1613453
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 1613453.
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 right hearing loss is granted as service-connected, but left hearing loss and tinnitus are denied.
- Dismissed
The appeal concerning service connection for left hearing loss, tinnitus, an acquired mental health condition (depression, anxiety and insomnia), a lumbar spine condition, a right knee condition, and a left knee condition is dismissed. The appeals for service connection for headaches, erectile dysfunction, and gastrointestinal condition are remanded.
- Denied
The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for SMC higher than the (l) + (1/2) rate due to lack of anatomical loss or use of extremities, blindness, or permanent bedridden status.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for right and left hearing loss as there was no evidence of a current disability, in-service incurrence or aggravation, and no causal relationship between the claimed conditions and military service.
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