The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was restored to a 20 percent rating, effective November 21, 2014.,A higher rating for bilateral hearing loss is denied.,PTSD was granted an initial rating of 100 percent from December 26, 2017, and the Veteran's TDIU claim prior to October 7, 2014, remains pending.,The issue of a total disability due to individual unemployability based on service-connected disabilities (TDIU) was remanded.
The deciding factor: The reduction in rating for bilateral hearing loss from 20 percent to 10 percent was not proper as there was no evidence of improvement in the Veteran's ability to function under ordinary conditions.,PTSD symptoms more nearly approximated total occupational and social impairment, warranting a 100 percent rating since October 7, 2014.,The Veteran’s tinnitus is assigned the maximum schedular evaluation (10%) as per DC 6260.
- Claimed conditions
- bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, PTSD
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- June 1, 2018
- Citation
- 18106992
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 18106992.
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.
- 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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