Service connection for bilateral hearing loss and TDIU are granted. Ratings in excess of 10 percent for left and right lower extremity diabetic peripheral neuropathy are remanded.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, diabetes mellitus, and peripheral neuropathy, preclude him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.
- Claimed conditions
- bilateral hearing loss, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), diabetes mellitus, peripheral neuropathy of the sciatic nerve in left and right lower extremities, tinnitus
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 70%
- Decision date
- July 16, 2019
- Citation
- 19154915
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 19154915.
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.
- 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 claims for service connection for hearing loss, tinnitus, and an acquired psychiatric disorder due to incomplete medical records and need for further examination.
- 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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