The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unemployable or in need of aid and attendance, thus his claims for TDIU and SMC based on the need for aid and attendance or housebound status are denied.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's service-connected conditions do not prevent him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation and he is not so helpless as to be in need of regular aid and attendance of another person, nor permanently housebound due to his service-connected disabilities.
- Claimed conditions
- PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, right knee degenerative joint disease with osteophytes, tinnitus
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- December 29, 2016
- Citation
- 1648519
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 1648519.
What this means for you
A denial is a starting point, not the end of the road. You can see why this claim fell short — and, if you are still inside the one-year window, the appeal lanes that may remain open to you.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Dismissed
The Veteran's appeal for service connection of bilateral hearing loss and a ruptured right ear drum was dismissed due to the death of the Veteran.
- Granted
The Board of Veterans' Appeals has granted service connection for PTSD and Mood Disorders, both presumed conditions under the PACT Act.
- Denied
The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was noted upon entry into active duty service and did not increase in severity during service. Therefore, it denied his claim for service connection.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for hearing loss, tinnitus, and an acquired psychiatric disorder due to incomplete medical records and need for further examination.
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