The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is granted as service-connected. The claim for a TDIU rating prior to June 9, 2009, is denied.
The deciding factor: Service connection was established based on the increase in hearing loss during military service and credible statements from the Veteran. For the TDIU claim, the effective date could not be earlier than June 9, 2009, as no factual increase occurred prior to this date.
- Claimed conditions
- bilateral hearing loss, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), right knee disability, perforated ear drums, left knee disability, impotency, sleep apnea
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 60%
- Decision date
- December 12, 2018
- Citation
- 18157438
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 18157438.
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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including a new VA examination to assess his bilateral knee and hip disabilities.
- 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 case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including bipolar disorder and PTSD. The Veteran will be asked to provide additional medical records and undergo a VA examination.
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