The Veteran's left ear hearing loss is granted service connection, and he receives a 10 percent disability rating for his right knee scar. His other specified trauma- and stressor-related disorder is granted an initial 70 percent disability rating.
The deciding factor: The evidence supports the grant of service connection for left ear hearing loss due to in-service noise exposure and the Veteran's current symptoms, with a VA examiner finding that there was no significant shift in his hearing between entrance and separation. The right knee scar is rated based on its painful nature, meeting the criteria for a 10 percent rating under Diagnostic Code 7804. For the other specified trauma- and stressor-related disorder, the evidence shows occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity, warranting a 70 percent disability rating.
- Claimed conditions
- Left ear hearing loss, Right knee scar, Other specified trauma- and stressor-related disorder
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 10%
- Decision date
- April 14, 2026
- Citation
- A26034444
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 A26034444.
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.
- Denied
The Board has determined that the Veteran's left ear hearing loss disability does not meet or approximate criteria for a compensable (10%) disability rating at any point during the appeal period.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a compensable rating for right ear hearing loss and service connection for left ear hearing loss due to inadequate audiometric examinations. The Veteran will be scheduled for new VA examinations to determine the nature and etiology of his left ear hearing loss and the severity of his hearing loss.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has granted service connection for a right knee scar secondary to the Veteran's service-connected right knee disability status post knee replacement. However, the rating for PTSD remains at 30 percent and needs to be re-adjudicated due to a failure to obtain private mental health treatment records.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's liver disability has not resulted in any compensable symptoms, as he had a previous history of liver disease but is currently asymptomatic.,The Veteran's left ear hearing loss has been rated at noncompensable level due to the absence of more than Level I hearing acuity.
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