The Veteran's PTSD is granted a 100% disability rating, and he is also awarded SMC under 38 C.F.R. § 1114(s)(1). The claim for an increased hearing loss rating was denied, and the issue of TDIU is dismissed as moot due to the grant of a total disability rating.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's PTSD symptoms more nearly approximated total occupational and social impairment throughout the appeal period, warranting a 100% disability rating. The bilateral hearing loss did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating. SMC was granted due to the Veteran having a service-connected disability rated as total (PTSD) and additional service-connected disabilities independently ratable at 60 percent or more.
- Claimed conditions
- Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Bilateral Hearing Loss
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 100%
- Decision date
- October 16, 2020
- Citation
- A20015647
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.
- 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 an effective date of February 21, 2007, for the award of service connection for PTSD and major depressive disorder with anxious distress.
- Granted
The Board granted a rating of 70 percent for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and traumatic brain injury (TBI), as the Veteran's symptoms most nearly approximated occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas.
- 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.
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