The Veteran's claim for service connection of hearing loss in the left ear is granted. The rating for PTSD prior to June 25, 2019, and TDIU based solely on PTSD are granted. The cervical spine degenerative disc disease rating is restored from September 6, 2018. Service connection for right ear hearing loss and increased ratings for lower back disability and cervical spine disability are remanded.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's left ear hearing loss had its onset in service, and the evidence supports a direct link to his military service. The VA examination used to justify the reduction from 20 percent to 10 percent for cervical spine degenerative disc disease was inadequate, leading to restoration of the original rating.
- Claimed conditions
- Bilateral Hearing Loss, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 70%
- Decision date
- December 14, 2023
- Citation
- 23066301
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 23066301.
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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