The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 30 percent prior to January 21, 2020 and at 50 percent since then.,Service connection for hypertension was denied as it is not shown to be related to the service-connected PTSD.,Service connection for Type II Diabetes Mellitus was denied due to lack of evidence showing a direct relationship with the Veteran's service or secondary to his service-connected PTSD.,Service connection for bilateral upper and lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, including as secondary to type II diabetes, was denied because there is no evidence linking these conditions directly to the Veteran's service or secondary to his service-connected disabilities.,Service connection for tinnitus was granted due to its onset during service.
The deciding factor: The Veteran’s PTSD caused occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity, warranting a 50 percent rating since January 21, 2020. Prior to that date, the disability did not meet the criteria for a higher rating.,There is no evidence showing hypertension was incurred or aggravated by service-connected PTSD.,The Veteran does not have type II diabetes or diabetic complications of peripheral neuropathy of his upper or lower extremities, nor do they cause functional impairment of earning capacity to be considered a ratable disability.,Bilateral upper and lower extremity peripheral neuropathy are not shown to be directly related to the service-connected Type II Diabetes Mellitus. The Veteran's tinnitus is presumed to have started during service and has persisted since then.
- Claimed conditions
- Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Hypertension, Type II Diabetes Mellitus, Bilateral Upper Extremity Peripheral Neuropathy, Bilateral Lower Extremity Peripheral Neuropathy, Tinnitus
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- February 25, 2021
- Citation
- 21010819
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. Read the original VA decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 21010819.
What this means for you
A final Board denial may be appealed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, generally within 120 days of the Board mailing date. A Supplemental Claim with new and relevant evidence is a separate option. Another Higher-Level Review of the Board decision is not available. Check your own notice: this historical decision does not set your deadline.
What you can do next
Use your own notice and decision stage. A remanded issue is not a final court-appealable denial. VA review guidance and CAVC filing instructions (U.S. federal; reviewed October 7, 2026).
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Whole decision: 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.
- Whole decision: 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.
- Whole decision: 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.
- Whole decision: 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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