The Veteran's right ear sensorineural hearing loss is as likely as not related to his active service, and the claim for this condition is granted. The issue of entitlement to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder including PTSD, anxiety NOS and depression is remanded due to insufficient evidence regarding the etiology of these conditions.
The deciding factor: The VA examiner's opinion was inadequate as it did not address the Veteran's reported stressors during service which could support a diagnosis of PTSD on the basis of fear of enemy attack. The claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder including PTSD, anxiety NOS and depression is remanded to obtain additional information from the Veteran regarding his alleged stressor and to schedule him for a VA examination.
- Claimed conditions
- right ear sensorineural hearing loss, an acquired psychiatric disorder including PTSD, anxiety NOS and depression
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- August 31, 2016
- Citation
- 1634242
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 1634242.
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.
- Dismissed
The appeal for service connection for PTSD has been dismissed. Service connection for left ear sensorineural hearing loss is granted, but the claim for right ear sensorineural hearing loss is remanded.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for service connection for right ear sensorineural hearing loss to obtain additional medical evidence regarding its etiology, including considering the Veteran's presumed in-service toxic exposure risk activities.
- Partly granted
The Board denied service connection for right ear sensorineural hearing loss, left ear sensorineural hearing loss, and tinnitus. The claims for anxiety, depression, PTSD, and feet and toes were remanded for further development.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for right ear sensorineural hearing loss as there was no evidence of a current disability for VA compensation purposes.
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