The Veteran's service connection claims for PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, thyroid disorder, cardiac disability, arrhythmia, basal cell carcinoma, and sleep apnea have all been granted. The lumbar spine disability claim has not been resolved.
The deciding factor: The VA examiner provided a medical opinion confirming the diagnosis of PTSD and linking it to in-service stressors, while audiometric testing supported the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus based on service-connected acoustic trauma.
- Claimed conditions
- Acquired psychiatric disability to include Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Bilateral hearing loss, Tinnitus, Thyroid disorder, Cardiac disability to include ischemic heart disease and coronary artery disease, Arrhythmia, including atrial fibrillation post pacemaker implant, Basal cell carcinoma, Sleep apnea, Lumbar spine disability
- How they argued it
- Presumptive (no nexus needed)
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- February 9, 2021
- Citation
- 21007406
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 21007406.
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 claim for a low back disorder was reopened, and his claims for increased ratings of bilateral knee instability were granted. His hearing loss claim was denied.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for sleep apnea and acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD) due to insufficient evidence of record. The Veteran is required to undergo VA examinations to determine if his conditions are related to service.
- Denied
The Board denied the veteran's claims for a higher rating for PTSD and dismissed his appeals regarding increased ratings for tinnitus and a right hand disability due to lack of timely filing of Notice of Disagreement.
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