The Veteran's application to reopen his claim for service connection for acoustic neuroma was denied due to lack of new and material evidence. His appeal for an increased rating for PTSD with major depression and nightmare disorder was also denied, as the symptoms did not meet the criteria for a 100% disability rating. The issue of total disability rating for individual unemployability is being remanded.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's psychiatric symptoms alone did not result in total occupational and social impairment, which is required for a 100% disability rating under Diagnostic Code 9411.
- Claimed conditions
- Acoustic neuroma, Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) with major depression and nightmare disorder
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- August 12, 2019
- Citation
- 19162372
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 1,350 · Granted: 26% (granted or partly granted, in the vetted decisions on this site)
Judge attribution: 2025 complete; earlier years partial.
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 19162372.
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 Board granted a 30 percent disability rating for acoustic neuroma and a 10 percent rating for tinnitus, due to the acoustic neuroma. The Board also granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for service connection for acoustic neuroma, ventriculoperitoneal shunt, head, and surgical scars as they are inextricably intertwined.
- Partly granted
The appeal for service connection for acoustic neuroma was granted based on new and relevant evidence, but the issue is also remanded for further development.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case due to unclear information regarding the Veteran's current employment status and income. The Veteran is required to complete a new VA Form 21-8940 and provide yearly income information for the period of May 2013 to present.
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