The Board granted service connection for headaches as secondary to tinnitus and right ankle sprain, but denied an earlier effective date and a higher rating for left eye retinopathy associated with diabetes mellitus type II.
The deciding factor: The decision was based on the evidence showing that the Veteran's headaches were due to his service-connected tinnitus and that his right ankle sprain was related to his service. However, there was no evidence of an earlier claim or entitlement for left eye retinopathy associated with diabetes mellitus type II prior to January 25, 2011, and the visual impairment did not meet the criteria for a higher rating.
- Claimed conditions
- left eye retinopathy associated with diabetes mellitus type II, headaches (secondary to tinnitus), right ankle sprain
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 10%
- Decision date
- May 20, 2025
- Citation
- A25045511
What this means for you
A partial grant means some issues were granted while others were denied or remanded — common in multi-issue claims. Look at which issues went which way, and how each was argued.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Partly granted
The Board granted a 20 percent rating for the service-connected right ankle sprain, but denied an increased rating in excess of 20 percent.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for headaches, a bilateral wrist disability, a bilateral hip disability, facial scars, and a rating in excess of 10 percent for right ankle sprain.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for a supplemental medical opinion regarding the severity of the Veteran's knee and ankle disabilities without medication, as well as an opinion on the etiology of his psychiatric conditions.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for a right ankle disability, diagnosed as chronic right ankle sprain. The claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder was remanded for further development.
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