The Board granted an initial rating of 70 percent for depressive disorder prior to January 30, 2024, and denied a rating of 20 percent for bilateral hearing loss. The Veteran was also granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) prior to January 30, 2024.
The deciding factor: The Board found that the severity, frequency, and duration of the Veteran's depressive disorder symptoms more closely approximated occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas, warranting a 70 percent rating. The evidence did not support a higher initial rating or a 20 percent rating for bilateral hearing loss.
- Claimed conditions
- Depressive disorder, Bilateral hearing loss
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- April 24, 2025
- Citation
- 25005567
What this means for you
A partial grant means some issues were granted while others were denied or remanded — common in multi-issue claims. Look at which issues went which way, and how each was argued.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the Veteran's claims for additional VA examinations to properly evaluate the current severity of her disabilities.
- Denied
The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, as there was no evidence of a current disability in the right ear and insufficient evidence to establish a nexus between the left ear hearing loss and service.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the matter for a medical clarification regarding whether the Veteran's service-connected epilepsy has aggravated his bilateral hearing loss.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss to obtain an addendum opinion addressing the Veteran's lay statements regarding in-service acoustic trauma and a rocket blast injury.
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