The Board denied higher ratings for PTSD with alcohol use disorder, left and right knee strains, a left lower leg scar based on pain, a left lower leg scar based on underlying soft tissue damage, and adult acne with scarring.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's symptoms did not meet the criteria for higher disability ratings due to insufficient evidence of gross impairment or other severe symptoms required for higher ratings.
- Claimed conditions
- PTSD with alcohol use disorder, Left knee strain with tendonitis/tendinosis, Right knee strain with tendonitis/tendinosis, Left lower leg scar based on pain, Left lower leg scar based on underlying soft tissue damage, Adult acne with scarring
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- December 22, 2025
- Citation
- A25110047
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 2,341 · Granted: 33% (granted or partly granted, in the indexed decisions on this site)
Judge attribution: 2025 complete; earlier years partial.
This is a plain-language summary generated by AI from a public Board of Veterans’ Appeals decision. It can contain errors — always verify against the original. Read the original VA decision (opens in a new tab) using citation A25110047.
What this means for you
A final Board denial may be appealed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, generally within 120 days of the Board mailing date. A Supplemental Claim with new and relevant evidence is a separate option. Another Higher-Level Review of the Board decision is not available. Check your own notice: this historical decision does not set your deadline.
What you can do next
Use your own notice and decision stage. A remanded issue is not a final court-appealable denial. VA review guidance and CAVC filing instructions (U.S. federal; reviewed October 7, 2026).
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Veteran's claim for insomnia disorder was denied as there is no evidence of a current diagnosis.,The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for PTSD with alcohol use disorder was denied due to the level of impairment not meeting the criteria for a higher disability rating.
- Whole decision: Partly granted
The Board denied an increased rating for PTSD with alcohol use disorder and discectomy with lumbar discogenic pain but granted a 20% initial rating for left lower extremity radiculopathy from April 18, 2023 through January 16, 2024. The service connection was denied for bilateral hearing loss but granted for left knee Degenerative Joint Disease (DJD).
- Whole decision: Dismissed
The appeal was withdrawn by the Veteran before the Board promulgated a decision.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Board granted an increased rating of 70 percent for PTSD with alcohol use disorder, effective November 10, 2022.
Free starter guide for your own claim
Reading this because you were denied or under-rated? Get the plain-English next steps — your appeal options, the deadline that protects you, and how appeals like yours turn out. One email, no spam.
We will only use this to send the guide. No spam, unsubscribe any time. We never sell your information.
We are not the VA. Veterans’ Rights is an independent resource built for veterans. We are not the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, not part of the government, and not endorsed by any government agency.
This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.