The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent, effective April 1, 2011. Service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are granted. The Veteran's sleep apnea remains in excess of 50 percent.
The deciding factor: The Veteran demonstrated significant symptoms consistent with a 70% rating for PTSD, including suicidal ideation, difficulty adapting to stress, impaired impulse control, and social impairment, warranting the highest available disability rating under Diagnostic Code 9411. Service connection was granted for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus.
- Claimed conditions
- Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Obstructive Sleep Apnea, Bilateral Hearing Loss, Tinnitus
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 70%
- Decision date
- December 2, 2020
- Citation
- 20076680
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 20076680.
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.
- 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.
- Granted
The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is granted as service-connected. The claims for alcohol abuse and psychiatric disorder are remanded for additional development, including a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of these conditions.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the case due to a need for a new VA examination to assess the current severity of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss. The issue remains under direct service connection theory.
- Denied
The Veteran's hearing loss was rated at 30 percent, the highest non-compensable rating available. The Board found that his hearing loss did not warrant a higher rating based on VA examinations and medical records.
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