The Veteran's left ear hearing loss does not warrant a compensable rating. The combined impact of his service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, OSA, IHD, and degenerative arthritis of the right knee, renders him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment prior to December 10, 2017.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's left ear hearing loss does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating. His combined service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, OSA, IHD, and degenerative arthritis of the right knee, render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment prior to December 10, 2017.
- Claimed conditions
- Left Ear Hearing Loss, PTSD (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder), Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA), Ischemic Heart Disease (IHD), Hypothyroidism, Tinnitus, Degenerative Arthritis of the Right Knee
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- June 21, 2022
- Citation
- 22035570
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. Read the original VA decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 22035570.
What this means for you
A final Board denial may be appealed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, generally within 120 days of the Board mailing date. A Supplemental Claim with new and relevant evidence is a separate option. Another Higher-Level Review of the Board decision is not available. Check your own notice: this historical decision does not set your deadline.
What you can do next
Use your own notice and decision stage. A remanded issue is not a final court-appealable denial. VA review guidance and CAVC filing instructions (U.S. federal; reviewed October 7, 2026).
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Whole decision: 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.
- Whole decision: 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.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including GAD, MDD, bruxism, migraines/headaches, tinnitus, hip pain, iliotibial band syndrome, and leg stress fractures. The evidence does not support current diagnoses of these conditions during the appeal period.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims of entitlement to service connection for vertigo and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error. The Veteran's hearing loss is not rated higher than 10 percent.
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