The Board granted service connection for left ear hearing loss and an initial evaluation of 10 percent from February 17, 2021, but denied a higher rating for major depressive disorder and other specified trauma-and stressor-related disorder.
The deciding factor: The evidence was in approximate balance regarding the Veteran's left ear hearing loss, leading to a grant with reasonable doubt resolved in favor of the Veteran. The sinusitis met criteria for a 10 percent rating but not higher, while the major depressive disorder did not meet the criteria for a higher rating.
- Claimed conditions
- left ear hearing loss, chronic sinusitis, major depressive disorder and other specified trauma-and stressor-related disorder
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 10%
- Decision date
- June 18, 2025
- Citation
- A25053369
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.
- 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.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for a deviated septum and denied compensable ratings for allergic rhinitis, chronic sinusitis, hypothyroidism, and hypertension.
- Partly granted
The Board granted a 20 percent disability rating for left and right lower extremity radiculopathy from April 3, 2023 onward, but denied higher ratings prior to that date. Service connection was also granted for alcohol use disorder as secondary to PTSD with traumatic brain injury.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for service connection of left ear hearing loss due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error, as an addendum opinion is necessary to address evidence of in-service hearing loss and convert audiometric testing results from ASA to ISO-ANSI standards.
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