The Veteran's right ear hearing loss and PTSD are granted as service-connected. The lower back, knee, hip, and ankle disabilities are also granted as service-connected, with some conditions being secondary to other service-connected disabilities.,Chronic diarrhea is granted as a service-connected condition.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's right ear hearing loss and PTSD were found to be related to in-service noise exposure and combat experiences, respectively. The lower back, knee, hip, and ankle conditions are considered secondary to the service-connected disabilities.,Chronic diarrhea is considered a medically unexplained condition that has manifested with at least 10% disability.
- Claimed conditions
- Right ear hearing loss, Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Lumbar strain and degenerative disc disease (lower back disability), Right knee iliotibial band syndrome and knee strain (right knee disability), Left knee iliotibial band syndrome and knee strain (left knee disability), Right hip iliotibial band syndrome (right hip disability), Left hip iliotibial band syndrome (left hip disability), Left ankle tendonitis (left ankle disability), Right ankle tendonitis and lateral collateral ligament sprain (right ankle disability), Chronic diarrhea
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- Gulf War
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- February 24, 2026
- Citation
- A26016560
This is a plain-language summary generated by AI from a public Board of Veterans’ Appeals decision. It can contain errors — always verify against the original. Look up the original decision on VA.gov (opens in a new tab) using citation A26016560.
What this means for you
A grant means the Board agreed the veteran was entitled to the benefit. Decisions like this show the kind of evidence and arguments that tend to succeed for claims like it.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Granted
The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD is granted as the evidence shows a current diagnosis of PTSD, an in-service stressor, and a medical link between the two.
- Denied
The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 50% since March 23, 2004. The Board found that a higher rating is not warranted prior to February 15, 2005 due to the severity of his symptoms and their impact on his social and occupational functioning.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and any acquired psychiatric disorder, finding that there was no evidence to support a link between his current mental health conditions and his military service.
- Granted
The Veteran's PTSD resulted in occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity, warranting a 70% disability rating. The Veteran also met the criteria for a TDIU due to his service-connected disabilities preventing him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.
Free starter guide for your own claim
Reading this because you were denied or under-rated? Get the plain-English next steps — your appeal options, the deadline that protects you, and how appeals like yours turn out. One email, no spam.
We will only use this to send the guide. No spam, unsubscribe any time. We never sell your information.
We are not the VA. Veterans’ Rights is an independent resource built for veterans. We are not the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, not part of the government, and not endorsed by any government agency.
This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.