u/Inner_Specialist_872

Hello,
I was diagnosed with PTSD by a VA doctor in February,2025. I have an exam coming up for this diagnosis and I was just wondering what to expect. Thanks in advance.

Hello,
I will try to make this quick. When I was in the United States Army. Stationed at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. My NCO got orders and went to Germany.
So brand new private first class inherited my own generator section. General Mechanic Truck Mechanic fuel handler there in the Gulf war. During routine PMCS of Equipment, we were issued these forced air heaters. They never operated properly. Long story short I called the number and the front and one of the repair manual got someone in Virginia. this person instructed me what to do with them give me about a week and he would be there at my unit and we could go over them together. We were third level maintenance echelon but I tore apart and labeled everything that we were fifth level as he instructed me to do. I had one of these heaters blew up in my face knocked me out for one to three minutes well it freaked me out. They’re the same time the inspector general from the base come to our unit to inspect we made a 20 out of 100 failed it miserably. From there everything went downhill that’s when my ears took a turn for the worse. Well, all my unit members are either dead or got there later than didn’t remember this. I did go to sick Call. But I told him for a headache so that’s all it’s on it. How can I find out the guy that I contacted and actually came to my unit I told him about it. We actually redesigned the heaters and they were perfect, so I’ve tried. I have no idea who the guy was what the book was because I should’ve took better notes.

VA FORM 20-0998, APR 2024 Page 2DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS
VETERANS BENEFITS ADMINISTRATION
VA REGIONAL OFFICE
Rating Decision
04/28/2026
INTRODUCTION
The records reflect that you are a Veteran of the Gulf War Era and Peacetime. You served in the
Army from July 1, 1988 to June 30, 1991. We received your request for a Higher Level Review
on December 16, 2025. Based on a review of the evidence listed below, we have made the
following decision(s) on your claim.
DECISION

1. The previous denial of service connection for bilateral hearing loss is confirmed and
   continued.
2. The previous denial of service connection for tinnitus is confirmed and continued.
3. A duty to assist error has been identified during the higher-level review for post-traumatic
   stress disorder.
   EVIDENCE
   ● VA Form 21-526EZ, Fully Developed Claim (Compensation), received November 18, 2024
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   ● Service treatment and personnel records for the period of July 1988 to June 1991, received
   December 10, 2024
   ● DD Form 214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty, for the period of July 1,
   1988 to June 30, 1991, received December 10, 2024
   ● Treatment records from Hot Spring VA Medical Center dated November 2013 to January
   2025
   ● Toxic Exposure Risk Activity (TERA) Memorandum, dated February 28, 2025
   ● VA contract examination conducted by LHI on March 9, 2025
   ● Treatment records from Atlanta VA Medical Center dated January 2025 to May 2025
   ● Rating decision dated May 9, 2025; notified by VA letter dated May 12, 2025
   ● VA Form 20-0996, Request for Higher-Level Review, received December 16, 2025
   ● Informal conference held April 27, 2026
   REASONS FOR DECISION
   1. Service connection for bilateral hearing loss.
   Service connection may be granted for a condition diagnosed after military discharge provided
   evidence establishes that the condition was caused by service. Service connection may be
   granted on this basis for a disability related to toxic exposure risk activity (TERA) during
   military service if evidence demonstrates that the Veteran was actually exposed in service and
   that a disease associated with such exposure resulted. (38 CFR 3.303, 38 CFR 3.304) We
   considered whether your condition resulted from a toxic exposure risk activity (TERA) in
   service. (38 U.S.C. 1168, 38 U.S.C. 1710(e)(4)) The evidence of record shows participation in a
   TERA. However, as your hearing loss pre-existed service, there is no evidence to connect your
   hearing loss to an in-service TERA.
   Service connection may not be established for disability due to impaired hearing unless the
   auditory threshold in any of the frequencies 500, 1000, 2000, 3000, or 4000 Hertz is 40 decibels
   or greater; or the auditory thresholds for at least three of the frequencies 500, 1000, 2000, 3000,
   or 4000 Hertz are 26 decibels or greater; or speech recognition scores using the Maryland CNC
   Test are less than 94 percent. Your service treatment records show bilateral hearing loss was
   noted on your enlistment audiogram dated July 10, 1987. VA examination findings show the left
   ear with 90 percent discrimination. Decibel (dB) loss at the pure tone threshold of 500 Hertz
   (Hz) is 35, at 1000 Hz is 30, at 2000 Hz is 30, at 3000 Hz is 85, and at 4000 Hz is 95. The
   average decibel loss is 60 in the left ear. The right ear shows a speech discrimination of 94
   percent. Your right ear decibel (dB) loss at the pure tone threshold of 500 Hertz (Hz) is 40, at
   1000 Hz is 35, at 2000 Hz is 30, at 3000 Hz is 85, and at 4000 Hz is 85. The average decibel loss
   is 50 in the right ear. During your medical examination dated March 9, 2025 the medical
   examiner noted, "You had significant hearing loss at entry to military service and was given a H2
   profile. There is no significant changes in threshold noted when 1988 and 1990 hearing tests are
   compared. Based on the evidence, your pre-existing bilateral hearing loss was not aggravated
   beyond normal progression in the military service. The evidence is against a nexus in this case,
   therefore it is less likely than not that the hearing loss for the left ear is related to military noise
   exposure.(38 CFR 3.303, 38 CFR 3.304, 38 CFR 3.309, 3.385) The evidence shows that bilateral
   hearing loss existed prior to service. There must be objective evidence of worsening of a
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   preexisting condition in order to establish service connection by aggravation. There is no
   evidence that the condition permanently worsened as a result of service. (38 CFR 3.306)
   Favorable Findings identified in this decision:
   The evidence shows that a qualifying event, injury, or disease had its onset during your service.
   Your military occupation specialty (MOS) as a Power Generator Equipment Repair Specialist is
   positively associated with military noise exposure.
   You have been diagnosed with a disability. During your medical examination dated March 09,
   2025 the medical examiner noted a diagnosis for bilateral hearing loss.
   The claimed issue existed prior to military service. A review of your military service treatment
   record enlistment physical noted prior hearing loss.
   Participation in a toxic exposure risk activity is conceded, per VA memorandum dated February
   28, 2025.
   Laws and Regulations applicable to this issue:
   38 CFR §3.321 General rating considerations.
   38 CFR §3.2601 Higher-level review
   38 CFR §3.2500 Review of decisions.
   2. Service connection for tinnitus.
   Service connection may be granted for a condition diagnosed after military discharge provided
   evidence establishes that the condition was caused by service. Service connection may be
   granted on this basis for a disability related to toxic exposure risk activity (TERA) during
   military service if evidence demonstrates that the Veteran was actually exposed in service and
   that a disease associated with such exposure resulted. (38 CFR 3.303, 38 CFR 3.304) We
   considered whether your condition resulted from a toxic exposure risk activity (TERA) in
   service. (38 U.S.C. 1168, 38 U.S.C. 1710(e)(4)) The evidence of record shows participation in a
   TERA. However, the VA examiner opined your tinnitus is secondary to your tinnitus, so there is
   no evidence to connect your tinnitus to an in-service TERA.
   Your service treatment records do not show tinnitus. Military noise exposure is conceded based
   on your military occupational specialty. VA examination findings show a diagnosis of tinnitus.
   However, the examiner opined that your tinnitus is less likely than not related to military noise
   exposure, and is most likely the result of your non-service connected hearing loss. Service
   connection for tinnitus is denied since this condition neither occurred in nor was caused by
   service. Additionally, service connection on a secondary basis cannot be considered as your
   hearing loss is not service connected. (38 CFR 3.310)
   Favorable Findings identified in this decision:
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   The evidence shows that a qualifying event, injury, or disease had its onset during your service.
   Your military occupation specialty (MOS) as a Power Generator Equipment Repair Specialist is
   positively associated with military noise exposure.
   You have been diagnosed with a disability. During your medical examination dated March 9,
   2025 the medical examiner noted a diagnosis for tinnitus.
   Participation in a toxic exposure risk activity is conceded, per VA memorandum dated February
   28, 2025.
   The claimed issue is secondary to the primary nonservice-connected disability. VA examination
   showed your tinnitus is secondary to your non-service connected hearing loss.
   Laws and Regulations applicable to this issue:
   38 CFR §3.321 General rating considerations.
   38 CFR §3.2601 Higher-level review
   38 CFR §3.2500 Review of decisions.
   3. Higher Level Review for post-traumatic stress disorder.
   The issue of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) was returned for correction of a duty to assist
   error in the prior decision. We failed to get an examination(s) and/or medical opinion(s). We will
   develop for an examination with medical opinion.
   Favorable Findings identified in this decision:
   You have been diagnosed with a disability. VA treatment records dated January 2025 show a
   diagnosis of PTSD.
   Evidence shows that you performed service in Southwest Asia from January 1, 1991 to March
   14, 1991.
   28, 2025.
   A stressor is conceded based on your deployment to Southwest Asia.
   Participation in a toxic exposure risk activity is conceded, per VA memorandum dated February
   REFERENCES:
   Title 38 of the Code of Federal Regulations, Pensions, Bonuses and Veterans' Relief contains
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   regulations of the Department of Veterans Affairs which govern entitlement to all Veteran
   benefits. For additional information regarding applicable laws and regulations, please consult
   your local library, or visit us at our website, www.va.go

I hope this is what I am supposed to post