The Veteran's psychiatric disability has been granted an increased rating of 70 percent, but not greater. The issue of a higher rating for bilateral hearing loss is remanded and the issue of TDIU prior to August 7, 2017 remains on appeal.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's psychiatric disability met the criteria for a 70% rating under Diagnostic Code 9440 due to occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas such as work, family relations, judgment, thinking, or mood. The issue of TDIU prior to August 7, 2017 is remanded as it is inextricably intertwined with the claim regarding CUE in the April 9, 2015 rating decision.
- Claimed conditions
- Psychiatric disability (adjustment disorder with mixed affective response), Bilateral hearing loss
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 70%
- Decision date
- August 22, 2018
- Citation
- 18128757
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 18128757.
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 claim for a low back disorder was reopened, and his claims for increased ratings of bilateral knee instability were granted. His hearing loss claim was denied.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's appeals of the initial ratings for his service-connected chronic cough and bilateral hearing loss are remanded due to procedural errors in the evidentiary record.
- Granted
The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including bilateral pes planus with hammer toes, hallux valgus and degenerative arthritis, sleep apnea, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and bilateral kidney cysts, rendered him unable to secure or follow gainful employment. The Board granted the TDIU based on these conditions.
- Denied
The Veteran's service-connected disabilities (bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus) do not prevent him from securing and maintaining substantially gainful employment.
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