The Veteran's claims for PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, and chronic fatigue have been granted. The Board found that the evidence is in equipoise with respect to the Veteran’s PTSD claim, granting service connection. For his bilateral hearing loss, the Board found that there was a link between current symptoms and the in-service stressors, granting service connection. However, for his chronic fatigue claim, the Board noted insufficient medical opinion regarding its relationship to service-connected disabilities or other factors.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's PTSD claim is granted due to the evidence being in equipoise with respect to the occurrence of the claimed in-service stressor and the link between current symptoms and the stressors. For his bilateral hearing loss, the Board found that there was a link between current symptoms and the in-service noise exposure. However, for his chronic fatigue claim, the VA examiner did not provide sufficient opinion regarding its relationship to service-connected disabilities or other factors.
- Claimed conditions
- Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Bilateral Hearing Loss, Chronic Fatigue
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- September 26, 2019
- Citation
- 19175033
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 19175033.
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.
- Denied
The Board denied an initial disability rating in excess of 50 percent for PTSD, finding the appellant's symptoms did not more closely approximate occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for a rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD due to an inadequate medical opinion.
- Granted
The Board granted a disability rating of 70 percent for PTSD and a total disability rating due to individual unemployability (TDIU) based on the Veteran's service-connected disabilities.
- Granted
The Board granted an effective date of February 21, 2007, for the award of service connection for PTSD and major depressive disorder with anxious distress.
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