The Board denied increased ratings for hypertension, PTSD with MDD and insomnia disorder, tinnitus, right ear hearing loss, eczematous dermatitis of the wrists and feet, and DDD, L5-S1, with retrolisthesis. TDIU was granted as of September 22, 2015.
The deciding factor: The evidence did not show diastolic pressure predominantly 110 or more or systolic pressure predominantly 200 or more for hypertension; psychiatric symptomatology resulting in occupational and social impairment with occasional decrease in work efficiency and intermittent periods of inability to perform occupational tasks, without more severe manifestations that more nearly approximate occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity, occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas, or total occupational and social impairment for PTSD with MDD and insomnia disorder; a 10 percent rating was the maximum under DC 6260 for tinnitus; no worse than Level I hearing in both ears for right ear hearing loss; eczematous dermatitis of the wrists and feet did not affect at least 20 percent of the entire body or exposed areas, and did not require systemic therapy; DDD, L5-S1, with retrolisthesis did not result in ankylosis, or the functional equivalent thereof, even in contemplation of functional loss due to symptoms such as pain, fatigue, weakness, lack of endurance, or incoordination, or as a result of repetitive motion and/or flare-ups, intervertebral disc syndrome (IVDS) with incapacitating episodes, or associated objective neurological abnormalities; and the Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation consistent with his education and work history.
- Claimed conditions
- hypertension, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) with major depressive disorder (MDD) and insomnia disorder, tinnitus, right ear hearing loss, eczematous dermatitis of the wrists and feet, degenerative disc disease (DDD), L5-S1, with retrolisthesis
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- May 14, 2025
- Citation
- A25043468
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 an effective date of October 21, 2021, for the grant of service connection for hypertension.
- Dismissed
The appeal for a compensable rating for left ear hearing loss, service connection for right ear hearing loss, and bilateral vision condition was dismissed. Service connection for hypertension, congestive heart failure, and coronary artery disease was denied.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including prostate cancer and related disabilities, urinary incontinence, sleep apnea, hypertension, varicose veins, lumbar spine disability, hip arthritis, shoulder arthritis, ankle arthritis, knee strain, knee replacement, and hand arthritis. The only condition granted was a 10 percent rating for a fracture of the right proximal first metacarpal.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for service connection for tinnitus to correct a duty to assist error, as the Veteran's lay statements regarding onset and continuity of symptoms were not adequately considered in the previous decision.
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