The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, diabetes, and bilateral hearing loss, prevent him from obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's multiple service-connected conditions, particularly his severe PTSD symptoms and physical disabilities, make it impossible for him to perform the duties required for any type of work.
- Claimed conditions
- Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, Right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, Diabetes mellitus, type II, Peripheral neuropathy of the left upper extremity, Peripheral neuropathy of the right upper extremity, Bilateral hearing loss, Tinnitus, 3 mm metallic foreign body in calf, status post wound and right shoulder status post shell fragment wound residual scar tissue
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 90%
- Decision date
- October 17, 2019
- Citation
- 19179277
Veterans Law Judge
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 19179277.
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.
- 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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