The Veteran's claims for service connection for right ear hearing loss and an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD and alcohol use disorder were denied. The claim for a higher initial disability rating for PTSD and alcohol use disorder was granted with a specific rating of 70% from September 26, 2017 to July 1, 2022, but the overall initial disability rating remains denied.
The deciding factor: The Veteran did not meet the current disability requirement for right ear hearing loss as her speech recognition score was not less than 94 percent and she did not have an auditory threshold of 40 decibels at any frequency or a threshold of 26 or more decibels at three frequencies. The VA psychologist found no separate mental health disorder diagnosis to account for symptoms of depression, anxiety, and insomnia as those symptoms were included in and accounted for by her diagnosis for PTSD.
- Claimed conditions
- right ear hearing loss, acquired psychiatric disorder (other than PTSD and alcohol use disorder)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- March 7, 2023
- Citation
- 23013791
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 23013791.
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 Veteran's claim for an initial compensable disability rating for onychomycosis was denied as the condition did not require treatment and covered less than 5% of his body. The Board also remanded issues regarding service connection for left ear hearing loss and entitlement to a compensable disability rating for right ear hearing loss.
- Whole decision: Dismissed
The Veteran withdrew his appeal for service connection of right ear hearing loss, and the case is dismissed.
- Whole decision: Dismissed
The Board dismissed the Veteran's appeals for service connection of sleep apnea, left lower extremity (LLE) sciatic nerve radiculopathy, and right ear hearing loss due to untimely filing.,The Board also dismissed the appeal for service connection of left ear hearing loss as moot because it was already granted in a prior decision.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case for further development and consideration of the Veteran's claims for service connection for right ear hearing loss. The Veteran does not have left ear hearing loss for VA purposes.
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