The Board denied the appeals for increased ratings for PTSD, diabetes mellitus with erectile dysfunction, and hearing loss. An earlier effective date was granted for right ear hearing loss, and TDIU was granted from August 7, 1998 to July 12, 2016.
The deciding factor: The evidence did not support a higher rating due to the Veteran's symptoms being consistent with occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity for PTSD, and the criteria for a compensable rating were not met for hearing loss. TDIU was granted based on the balance of evidence showing the Veteran could not obtain and maintain substantially gainful employment.
- Claimed conditions
- Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), Diabetes mellitus with erectile dysfunction, Right ear hearing loss, Left ear hearing loss
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- June 9, 2025
- Citation
- A25050443
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 service connection for PTSD, resolving reasonable doubt in the Veteran's favor and finding that his PTSD is related to an in-service military sexual trauma (MST) during a period of ACDUTRA.
- Partly granted
The Board granted a 20 percent rating for the Veteran's left knee strain, service connection for right ear hearing loss, and service connection for a right ankle disorder. Other claims were denied or remanded.
- Partly granted
The Board granted an effective date of May 17, 2019, for a 70 percent disability rating for PTSD but denied earlier effective dates for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus.
- Partly granted
The Board granted readjudication of previously denied claims for service connection for PTSD and COPD, while remanding other issues including entitlement to service connection for an eye disorder, hypertension, tinnitus, a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss, TDIU, and an initial rating for PTSD.
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