The Board granted service connection for psychiatric disorder, tinnitus, and bilateral hearing loss with effective dates of December 20, 2018. An initial evaluation of 100 percent was granted for the psychiatric condition, while a higher rating for tinnitus was denied. SMC was also granted from that date.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's psychiatric symptoms more nearly approximate total occupational and social impairment, supporting an initial 100% rating. The evidence did not support service connection or higher ratings for COPD, emphysema, and headaches.
- Claimed conditions
- psychiatric disorder, tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, COPD, emphysema, headaches
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 100%
- Decision date
- June 30, 2025
- Citation
- A25056574
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 claim for service connection for tinnitus to correct a duty to assist error, as the Veteran's lay statements regarding onset and continuity of symptoms were not adequately considered in the previous decision.
- Dismissed
The Veteran withdrew the appeals for service connection for bilateral pes planus, obstructive sleep apnea, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for tinnitus, cubital tunnel syndrome, right plantar fasciitis, and a right knee disability due to the lack of evidence supporting a nexus between these conditions and the Veteran's military service.
- Granted
The Board granted an effective date of April 25, 2022, for the award of service connection for tinnitus and a 100 percent initial rating for PTSD with alcohol use disorder.
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