The Veteran's service connection claims for dermatosis, chronic sinusitis, and a headache disability have been granted. The Veteran also received increased evaluations for PTSD (70%), fibromyalgia (40%), and irritable bowel syndrome (30%). Bilateral hearing loss was denied.,An effective date of August 6, 2018, has been assigned for the 70% evaluation for PTSD. Effective dates have also been assigned for increased evaluations for fibromyalgia and irritable bowel syndrome.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's service connection claims were granted based on direct evidence showing a current disability in each condition. For dermatosis, chronic sinusitis, and the headache disability, presumptive service connection was established due to service in Southwest Asia. The increased evaluations for PTSD, fibromyalgia, and irritable bowel syndrome were assigned based on the severity of symptoms as described by VA examiners.
- Claimed conditions
- Dermatosis, Sinusitis, Headache Disability, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Fibromyalgia, Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), Bilateral Hearing Loss
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 70%
- Decision date
- October 20, 2023
- Citation
- A23029141
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 A23029141.
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.
- 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.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that there was no evidence of a nexus between his current hearing loss and his active service. The Board noted that while he had complaints of earaches in service, these did not indicate a current disability.
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