The Board has denied the appellant's claims for increased ratings and service connection for various conditions, including tinnitus, back disability, bilateral hearing loss, PTSD, bilateral lower extremity neuropathy, diabetes mellitus, high blood pressure, and spinal meningitis. The decision also remanded several issues related to these conditions.
The deciding factor: The evidence received since the final June 2014 rating decision did not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claims for service connection for PTSD or bilateral lower extremity neuropathy, diabetes mellitus, high blood pressure, and spinal meningitis. The appellant's claim for increased tinnitus was denied as his disability is already at its maximum schedular rating.
- Claimed conditions
- {"condition_name":"tinnitus","rating_assigned":null,"effective_date":null}, {"condition_name":"back disability","rating_assigned":null,"effective_date":null}, {"condition_name":"bilateral hearing loss","rating_assigned":null,"effective_date":null}, {"condition_name":"PTSD","rating_assigned":null,"effective_date":null}, {"condition_name":"bilateral lower extremity neuropathy","rating_assigned":null,"effective_date":null}, {"condition_name":"diabetes mellitus","rating_assigned":null,"effective_date":null}, {"condition_name":"high blood pressure","rating_assigned":null,"effective_date":null}, {"condition_name":"spinal meningitis","rating_assigned":null,"effective_date":null}
- How they argued it
- Reopened with new and material evidence
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- January 4, 2019
- Citation
- 19101027
What this means for you
A denial is a starting point, not the end of the road. You can see why this claim fell short — and, if you are still inside the one-year window, the appeal lanes that may remain open to you.
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 sarcoidosis as new and relevant evidence has been received since the previous denial.
- 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 appeal for service connection for a left-hand condition is dismissed as the Veteran was granted service connection for mononeuropathy to the left hand fourth finger with parasthesia of skin in an October 2025 rating decision.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for service connection for unspecified anxiety disorder and major depressive disorder to obtain an adequate medical opinion regarding their etiology.
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.