The Veteran's dizziness is not service-connected, and his bilateral hearing loss does not warrant a compensable rating. The Veteran's PTSD has been rated as 30 percent prior to October 28, 2015, and 70 percent from that date onwards.,For the period prior to October 28, 2015, the Veteran did not meet the schedular criteria for a TDIU due to his service-connected disabilities. For the period after October 28, 2015, the Veteran's PTSD does not warrant a rating in excess of 70 percent.
The deciding factor: The evidence does not support a finding that the Veteran’s dizziness was incurred or aggravated by his military service. The Board found no credible evidence linking the current symptoms to service.,The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is currently rated as zero percent, and there are no exceptional patterns of hearing loss present at any time during the appeal period.,For the period prior to October 28, 2015, the Veteran’s PTSD did not meet the criteria for a higher rating. For the period after that date, his PTSD does not warrant an increased rating beyond 70 percent due to its severity and impact on daily life.,The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation consistent with his education and work experience.
- Claimed conditions
- dizziness, bilateral hearing loss, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- April 5, 2019
- Citation
- 19126123
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.
- Partly granted
The Veteran was granted a 70 percent initial disability rating for PTSD effective December 2, 2021, but the claim for an increased rating in excess of 70 percent was denied. The appeal also included claims for service connection and ratings for various conditions, some of which were granted while others were remanded.
- Dismissed
The Veteran withdrew the appeals for service connection for bilateral pes planus, obstructive sleep apnea, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
- Granted
The Board granted an effective date of October 17, 2022, for the grant of service connection for PTSD.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for headaches and increased ratings for left shoulder rotator cuff tear, right shoulder rotator cuff tear, hypertension, and left and right leg restless leg syndrome. The Board denied a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss and an initial rating in excess of 70 percent for posttraumatic stress disorder.
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