The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to service, with the Board granting service connection for these conditions.,PTSD is currently rated at 70 percent, but the Veteran's appeal for a higher rating is denied. A temporary total disability rating was granted based on inpatient PTSD treatment from September 8, 2014 to October 31, 2014.
The deciding factor: The Board found that the Veteran’s hearing loss and tinnitus were related to service exposure due to combat experience. The VA examiner's opinion was not accepted as conclusive evidence against the claim.,PTSD symptoms are currently rated at 70 percent, but the Veteran did not meet the criteria for a higher rating based on total occupational and social impairment.
- Claimed conditions
- bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), degenerative disc disease of the lumbosacral spine
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 70%
- Decision date
- March 20, 2020
- Citation
- 20020548
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 20020548.
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.
- 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 claims for service connection for hearing loss, tinnitus, and an acquired psychiatric disorder due to incomplete medical records and need for further examination.
- 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.
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