The appeal was denied as the discontinuance of a separate 40 percent rating for TBI and an increased disability rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD with TBI were not supported by the evidence.
The deciding factor: The Board found that the symptoms of the service-connected PTSD and TBI overlapped, and thus a single disability evaluation should be assigned reflecting the overall disability picture for both diagnoses. There was no evidence to support separate or higher ratings for either condition.
- Claimed conditions
- Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) with TBI, Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- June 17, 2025
- Citation
- A25053181
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 a rating of 70 percent for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and traumatic brain injury (TBI), as the Veteran's symptoms most nearly approximated occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas.
- Granted
The Veteran's effective date for the award of a 100 percent rating for PTSD with alcohol use disorder moderate and TBI was granted as of October 22, 2019.
- Denied
The Board denied earlier effective dates for the grant of service connection and increased evaluations for GERD, sinusitis, allergic rhinitis, and TBI.
- Denied
The Board denied an initial compensable disability rating for the Veteran's service-connected traumatic brain injury (TBI) as the evidence did not support a finding of symptoms related to TBI residuals.
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