The Board granted a 70 percent disability rating for the Veteran's acquired mental health condition and also granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities, while denying a compensable disability rating for bilateral hearing loss.
The deciding factor: The evidence demonstrated that the Veteran's mental health condition manifested as occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas, warranting a 70 percent rating. The Board also found that the Veteran was unable to obtain or maintain gainful employment due to his service-connected disabilities, thus granting TDIU.
- Claimed conditions
- Bilateral Hearing Loss, Acquired Mental Health Condition (Depressive Disorder and Substance Use Disorder)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 70%
- Decision date
- March 26, 2025
- Citation
- A25028108
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.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's conditions are related to in-service noise exposure.
- Denied
The Board denied the veteran's claims for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss, an initial rating in excess of 50 percent for PTSD, entitlement to TDIU, and SMC based on housebound status.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for asbestosis, bronchitis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), rhinitis, sinusitis, and asthma. The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was also denied a compensable rating.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for various disabilities and denied higher ratings for several service-connected conditions.
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