The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was rated as noncompensable, with no evidence of symptoms warranting a higher rating.,The Veteran's IBS was rated at 30 percent, and the Board found that this was the maximum schedular evaluation under Diagnostic Code 7319. No higher rating is available based on other diagnostic codes.,PTSD was rated at 50 percent, with no evidence of symptoms warranting a higher rating under any applicable criteria.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss did not meet the criteria for a compensable disability rating due to his audiometric test results and subjective reports. The VA rating schedule is definitive in this case.,The Veteran’s IBS was rated at 30 percent, which is the maximum schedular evaluation under Diagnostic Code 7319. No higher rating is available based on other diagnostic codes.,PTSD was rated at 50 percent due to symptoms such as flattened affect, circumstantial speech, and difficulty understanding complex commands. The Veteran did not meet criteria for a higher rating under any applicable criteria.
- Claimed conditions
- bilateral hearing loss, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- October 23, 2020
- Citation
- A20015937
Veterans Law Judge
Judge attribution: 2025 complete; earlier years partial.
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 A20015937.
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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 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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and major depressive disorder, is being remanded due to the need for additional development regarding his alleged stressors.
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