The Board has remanded the issues of increased ratings for right knee degenerative joint disease, bilateral hearing loss, and service connection for PTSD and sleep apnea. The Veteran's claim for an increased rating in excess of 10 percent for his right knee degenerative joint disease is denied. His claims for increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss are remanded as the evidence does not meet the criteria for a compensable evaluation prior to March 29, 2021, and a 30 percent evaluation thereafter under DC 6100. The Board has granted service connection for PTSD and sleep apnea.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's hearing loss did not suddenly worsen; the evidence shows a gradual decline in hearing acuity over time.
- Claimed conditions
- Right Knee Degenerative Joint Disease, Bilateral Hearing Loss, Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Sleep Apnea
- How they argued it
- Reopened with new and material evidence
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 30%
- Decision date
- May 2, 2023
- Citation
- 23025248
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 23025248.
What this means for you
A remand is not a loss. The Board sent the case back for more development — often a new exam or missing records — before making a final decision. Many remands later end in a grant, and the decision spells out exactly what the Board wanted to see.
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.
- Granted
The Veteran's PTSD resulted in occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity, warranting a 70% disability rating. The Veteran also met the criteria for a TDIU due to his service-connected disabilities preventing him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.
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