The Board denied the veteran's claims for earlier effective dates and higher ratings for various service-connected conditions, except for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) which was granted effective August 9, 2017.
The deciding factor: The evidence did not support an earlier effective date or higher ratings for the veteran's service-connected conditions as of the dates claimed by the veteran.
- Claimed conditions
- migraine headaches, irritable bowel syndrome with gastroesophageal reflux disease (IBS with GERD), dry eyes, bilateral with pinguecula, pterygium right eye, low back disability, erectile dysfunction, loss of use of a creative organ, tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, migraine headaches (initial rating), IBS with GERD (initial rating), dry eyes, bilateral with pinguecula (initial rating), pterygium right eye (initial rating), low back disability (initial rating), erectile dysfunction (initial rating)
- How they argued it
- Reopened with new and material evidence
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- June 5, 2025
- Citation
- A25049902
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 Veteran's migraine headaches were granted a 50 percent disability rating, effective August 8, 2023, due to very frequent completely prostrating and prolonged attacks that are productive of severe economic inadaptability.
- 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.
- Granted
The Board granted a 50 percent rating for the Veteran's migraine headaches based on prostrating attacks occurring more than once a month and severe economic inadaptability.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for migraine headaches as proximately due to the Veteran's service-connected tinnitus.
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