Service connection for bilateral hearing loss is granted, effective from the date of receipt of claim.,The Veteran's service-connected tinnitus has an effective date of May 30, 2017. The earlier effective date request for prior to this date is denied.,A rating of 70 percent for recurrent major depressive disorder with alcohol/drug use disorder from October 6, 2015 but no earlier is granted.,The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 70 percent for recurrent major depressive disorder with alcohol/drug use disorder beginning October 6, 2015 is denied.

The deciding factor: Service connection for bilateral hearing loss was established based on presumed exposure to acoustic trauma during service.,The effective date for tinnitus service connection cannot be earlier than May 30, 2017 due to the lack of a prior claim form.,For the period beginning October 6, 2015, recurrent major depressive disorder with alcohol/drug use disorder resulted in occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas and inability to establish effective relationships.,The Veteran's service-connected psychiatric disability did not result in total occupational and social impairment prior to October 6, 2015.

Claimed conditions

bilateral hearing loss, recurrent major depressive disorder with alcohol/drug use disorder, lumbosacral strain, atopic dermatitis, radiculopathy of the left and right lower extremities, tinnitus

How they argued it

Not specified

Exposure basis

None

Rating assigned

70%

Decision date

January 22, 2020

Citation

20004894