The Board denied service connection for hearing loss, a higher disability rating for PTSD, and a higher disability rating for tinnitus. The claims for service connection for joint pain, GERD, migraine headaches, and hypertension were remanded for further development.
The deciding factor: The evidence did not support the presence of a current disability for hearing loss or the severity required for a 100 percent rating for PTSD. The Veteran's tinnitus was rated at the maximum schedular rating. The claims for service connection for joint pain, GERD, migraine headaches, and hypertension were remanded due to the Veteran's participation in a Toxic Exposure Risk Activity (TERA) under the PACT Act.
- Claimed conditions
- hearing loss, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), tinnitus, joint pain, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), migraine headaches, hypertension
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- November 1, 2024
- Citation
- A24071127
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.
- Granted
The Board granted an effective date of October 21, 2021, for the grant of service connection for hypertension.
- Granted
The Veteran's migraine headaches were granted a 50 percent disability rating, effective August 8, 2023, due to very frequent completely prostrating and prolonged attacks that are productive of severe economic inadaptability.
- Dismissed
The appeal for a compensable rating for left ear hearing loss, service connection for right ear hearing loss, and bilateral vision condition was dismissed. Service connection for hypertension, congestive heart failure, and coronary artery disease was denied.
- Dismissed
The Veteran withdrew his appeals for service connection for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and pernicious anemia, and the Board dismissed both appeals.
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