The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are granted. The claim of entitlement to an initial rating higher than 30 percent for PTSD, right hip degenerative changes, and right thigh muscle injury status-post shrapnel wound is remanded.
The deciding factor: The VA examiner provided conflicting opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus, with one suggesting noise exposure during service was less likely to cause these conditions, while another opined that they were more likely related to in-service noise exposure. The private audiologist’s opinion is considered favorable to the Veteran.
- Claimed conditions
- Bilateral Hearing Loss, Tinnitus, Right Hand Shrapnel Wound, Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Right Hip Degenerative Changes, Right Thigh Muscle Injury, Status-post shrapnel wound
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- August 21, 2020
- Citation
- 20055413
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 20055413.
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.
- Granted
The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD is granted as the evidence shows a current diagnosis of PTSD, an in-service stressor, and a medical link between the two.
- Denied
The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 50% since March 23, 2004. The Board found that a higher rating is not warranted prior to February 15, 2005 due to the severity of his symptoms and their impact on his social and occupational functioning.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and any acquired psychiatric disorder, finding that there was no evidence to support a link between his current mental health conditions and his military service.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are not related to his military service.
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