The Veteran's appeal was withdrawn for the issues of bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and colon disorder. The Board granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD and/or depressive disorder). The Board also granted a 20 percent rating for each lower extremity peripheral neuropathy.
The deciding factor: The evidence supported the Veteran's claim that his acquired psychiatric disorder was related to service, including fear of hostile military activity. For the bilateral lower extremity neuropathy, the June 2013 VA examination showed moderate numbness and decreased light touch/monofilament testing, which approximated moderately severe incomplete paralysis.
- Claimed conditions
- bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD and/or depressive disorder), colon disorder, peripheral neuropathy, right lower extremity, peripheral neuropathy, left lower extremity
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- November 8, 2017
- Citation
- 1751073
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 1751073.
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 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.
- 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.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus, arthritis, and memory loss. The decision found no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.
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