The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (optic neuropathy), sleep condition, hypertension, and cirrhosis of the liver were all denied. The claim for PTSD was also denied prior to January 27, 2016, but granted from that date onwards.,The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated as 50 percent disabling prior to January 27, 2016 and 70 percent disabling from that date onwards.
The deciding factor: The evidence did not establish a direct link between the Veteran’s conditions and his military service.
- Claimed conditions
- Bilateral hearing loss, Tinnitus, Non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (optic neuropathy), Sleep condition, Hypertension, Cirrhosis of the liver, Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- January 3, 2019
- Citation
- 19100775
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 Board granted service connection for PTSD, resolving reasonable doubt in the Veteran's favor and finding that his PTSD is related to an in-service military sexual trauma (MST) during a period of ACDUTRA.
- Denied
The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, as there was no evidence of a current disability in the right ear and insufficient evidence to establish a nexus between the left ear hearing loss and service.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus type II and hypertension, to include as secondary to left orchiectomy, for further development in accordance with the PACT Act.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's conditions are related to in-service noise exposure.
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