The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for bilateral tinnitus and left ear hearing loss were denied. The claim for an initial rating in excess of 70 percent prior to December 16, 2016 for PTSD (to include substance abuse) was also denied.,No effective date was granted as the appeal period began on November 8, 2007.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's tinnitus and left ear hearing loss were assigned the maximum schedular ratings available under VA regulations. The Veteran did not present any additional symptoms that would warrant a higher rating.,VA found no evidence of exceptional hearing impairment in the Veteran's left ear, which prevented them from granting a compensable rating for his hearing loss.
- Claimed conditions
- bilateral tinnitus, left ear hearing loss, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), substance abuse
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- November 7, 2023
- Citation
- 23060095
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 23060095.
What this means for you
A denial is a starting point, not the end of the road. You can see why this claim fell short — and, if you are still inside the one-year window, the appeal lanes that may remain open to you.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including bipolar disorder and PTSD. The Veteran will be asked to provide additional medical records and undergo a VA examination.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and major depressive disorder, is being remanded due to the need for additional development regarding his alleged stressors.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case for additional development regarding the Veteran's service connection claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral hearing loss, migraine headaches, and PTSD due to additional development of records and examination.
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