Service connection for left ear hearing loss is granted.,Service connection for PTSD is granted.,The appeal of the issue of entitlement to an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for service-connected tinnitus is dismissed.,The appeal of the issue of entitlement to an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for right ear hearing loss is dismissed.,The appeal of the issue of entitlement to an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for tinnitus is dismissed.,Service connection for a stomach condition is remanded.,Service connection for headaches, including as secondary to PTSD, is remanded.
The deciding factor: The Veteran has a current diagnosis of left ear hearing loss and noise exposure in service was acknowledged by the VA. Service connection is warranted under 38 C.F.R. § 3.303(b).,VA treatment records show that the Veteran has a diagnosis for PTSD, and his military personnel records indicate behavior changes related to stressors during service. The Board finds that based on the evidence of record, the Veteran’s stressor is corroborated by the evidence of record.,The Veteran's VA treatment records show a diagnosis for migraine headaches in December 2016. No VA examiner has opined whether the Veteran’s headaches are secondary to his service-connected PTSD.,VA treatment records from May 2014 show that the Veteran was most recently provided with a VA hearing loss examination, and he argued that his right ear hearing loss has increased in severity. The Board finds that the Veteran should be provided an opportunity to report for a VA examination to ascertain the current severity and manifestations of his hearing loss.
- Claimed conditions
- left ear hearing loss, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), stomach condition, headaches
- How they argued it
- Not specified
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- August 21, 2019
- Citation
- 19164995
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 19164995.
What this means for you
A remand is not a loss. The Board sent the case back for more development — often a new exam or missing records — before making a final decision. Many remands later end in a grant, and the decision spells out exactly what the Board wanted to see.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Dismissed
The appeal for a compensable rating for left ear hearing loss, service connection for right ear hearing loss, and bilateral vision condition was dismissed. Service connection for hypertension, congestive heart failure, and coronary artery disease was denied.
- 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.
- 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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