The Veteran's service connection claim for bilateral hearing loss was denied. For the period from December 20, 2012 to June 16, 2017, a higher initial disability rating of 70 percent for PTSD was granted but not effective as it overlapped with another grant of a 100 percent rating. The Veteran's claims for hand tremors and vision disorder were remanded, and the claim for lumbar degenerative disc disease from December 20, 2012 to June 23, 2017 was also remanded.
The deciding factor: The Veteran did not have a current hearing loss disability as defined by VA regulations. For PTSD, the Board found that the Veteran's symptoms more nearly approximated those for a 70 percent rating but not a 100 percent rating due to lack of total occupational and social impairment.
- Claimed conditions
- bilateral hearing loss, PTSD, hand tremors, vision disorder, lumbar degenerative disc disease
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 70%
- Decision date
- April 18, 2019
- Citation
- 19130465
What this means for you
A partial grant means some issues were granted while others were denied or remanded — common in multi-issue claims. Look at which issues went which way, and how each was argued.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder to ensure a proper examination and etiology opinion are provided.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for PTSD, generalized anxiety disorder, and somatic symptom disorder, as well as presumptive service connection for basal cell carcinoma under the PACT Act. Service connection was denied for chronic fatigue syndrome, irritable bowel syndrome, right restless leg syndrome, left restless leg syndrome, an increased rating for psychiatric disorder, bilateral hearing loss, a left forehead surgical scar, and allergic rhinitis.
- 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).
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for multiple conditions, including bilateral hearing loss and various musculoskeletal issues, as well as an initial rating in excess of 0 percent for rhinitis. However, the Board granted a 70 percent rating for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
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