The Board denied the veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) prior to February 7, 2013, because the evidence showed the veteran was able to maintain full-time employment during that period.
The deciding factor: The deciding factor was the veteran's ability to maintain full-time employment prior to February 7, 2013.
- Claimed conditions
- posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), right maxillary sinusitis, neuroforaminal narrowing with C3-5 osteophytes (claimed as cervicalgia), right achilles tendonitis, left achilles tendonitis, bilateral pes planus (claimed as plantar fasciitis and pain on the bottom of the feet), tinnitus associated with bilateral hearing loss, microcytic, hypochromic anemia, pseudofolliculitis barbae, essential hypertension (claimed as heart palpitations), carpal tunnel syndrome, right upper extremity, carpal tunnel syndrome, left upper extremity, bilateral hearing loss, erectile dysfunction associated with PTSD, stiff person syndrome (claimed as neurologic condition), headaches
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- January 15, 2025
- Citation
- 25000550
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 163 · Granted: 31% (granted or partly granted, in the indexed 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. Read the original VA decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 25000550.
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: Dismissed
The Veteran's appeal for service connection of bilateral hearing loss and a ruptured right ear drum was dismissed due to the death of the Veteran.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Board has determined that the Veteran's headaches are at least as likely as not caused by his service-connected traumatic brain injury, and thus grants service connection for this condition.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was noted upon entry into active duty service and did not increase in severity during service. Therefore, it denied his claim for service connection.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including bipolar disorder and PTSD. The Veteran will be asked to provide additional medical records and undergo a VA examination.
Free starter guide for your own claim
Reading this because you were denied or under-rated? Get the plain-English next steps — your appeal options, the deadline that protects you, and how appeals like yours turn out. One email, no spam.
We will only use this to send the guide. No spam, unsubscribe any time. We never sell your information.
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.