The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent, but no higher. The other conditions are granted with service connection based on in-service exposure.
The deciding factor: The VA examiner found the Veteran's PTSD symptoms to be severe enough to warrant a 70 percent rating under Diagnostic Code 9411, which requires occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas.
- Claimed conditions
- Bilateral hearing loss, Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), Basal cell carcinoma, Diabetes mellitus, type II, Right lower extremity diabetic peripheral neuropathy (right foot pain), Left lower extremity diabetic peripheral neuropathy (left foot pain), Right upper extremity diabetic peripheral neuropathy, Left upper extremity diabetic peripheral neuropathy, Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
- How they argued it
- Presumptive (no nexus needed)
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 70%
- Decision date
- February 23, 2026
- Citation
- A26015949
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. Look up the original decision on VA.gov (opens in a new tab) using citation A26015949.
What this means for you
A grant means the Board agreed the veteran was entitled to the benefit. Decisions like this show the kind of evidence and arguments that tend to succeed for claims like it.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Granted
The Veteran's claim for a low back disorder was reopened, and his claims for increased ratings of bilateral knee instability were granted. His hearing loss claim was denied.
- Denied
The Board denied the claim of service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death, finding that there was no evidence linking his myocardial infarction and COPD to his military service.
- Granted
The Veteran is granted special monthly compensation (SMC) at the (o) rate and SMC at the (r)(2) rate, effective January 19, 2025. The decision finds that the Veteran's service-connected conditions warrant these awards due to his need for aid and attendance.
- Denied
The Board has denied service connection for bladder cancer, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) as there is no evidence to support a link between these conditions and the Veteran's military service.
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