The Veteran's claims for service connection for impetigo and folliculitis, PTSD, tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, and allergic rhinitis were denied. The appeals for higher initial ratings for PTSD prior to March 16, 2016; an initial compensable rating for tinnitus; and initial compensable ratings for bilateral hearing loss and allergic rhinitis are also denied.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's claims were based on the absence of a current disability diagnosis related to impetigo and folliculitis. The VA examinations did not find any evidence of these conditions, and the Veteran was not competent to diagnose them. For PTSD, the criteria for a higher initial rating prior to March 16, 2016, were not met as he had occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity but no deficiencies in most areas. The Veteran's hearing loss did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating under the applicable diagnostic code. For allergic rhinitis, there was no evidence of greater than 50 percent obstruction on both sides or complete obstruction on one side as required for a 10 percent rating.
- Claimed conditions
- impetigo, folliculitis, tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, allergic rhinitis
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- October 16, 2018
- Citation
- 18142601
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 18142601.
What this means for you
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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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