The Veteran's service-connected conditions do not preclude him from maintaining substantial gainful employment.
The deciding factor: The VA examiners did not find that the Veteran’s service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to work, and he has a high school education and an Associates Degree which suggests he is capable of obtaining employment in an environment where he could work alone.
- Claimed conditions
- Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Diabetes Mellitus, Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy of the Right Upper Extremity and Left Upper Extremity, Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy of the Right Lower Extremity and Left Lower Extremity, Tinnitus, Bilateral Hearing Loss
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 80%
- Decision date
- January 8, 2019
- Citation
- 19101583
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 19101583.
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.
- 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.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are not related to his military service.
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