The Board denied service connection for PTSD and the rating in excess of 30 percent for hearing loss. The TDIU claim on a schedular basis was also denied, but the issue is being remanded to consider extraschedular TDIU.
The deciding factor: The Veteran did not meet the criteria for service connection as there was no diagnosis of PTSD during the appeal period and his hearing loss disability rating was 30 percent. The TDIU claim on a schedular basis failed because the combined rating for all service-connected disabilities (30%) did not meet the threshold requirement.
- Claimed conditions
- Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Hearing Loss
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 30%
- Decision date
- December 13, 2018
- Citation
- 18157624
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 18157624.
What this means for you
A denial is a starting point, not the end of the road. You can see why this claim fell short — and, if you are still inside the one-year window, the appeal lanes that may remain open to you.
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 service connection for PTSD is granted as the evidence shows a current diagnosis of PTSD, an in-service stressor, and a medical link between the two.
- Denied
The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 50% since March 23, 2004. The Board found that a higher rating is not warranted prior to February 15, 2005 due to the severity of his symptoms and their impact on his social and occupational functioning.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and any acquired psychiatric disorder, finding that there was no evidence to support a link between his current mental health conditions and his military service.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are not related to his military service.
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