The Veteran's claim for a 10 percent rating for residual, scar left medial thigh, status post gunshot wound is granted. The Veteran's PTSD with AUD, Moderate is rated at 70 percent and TDIU based on PTSD alone is granted. Service connection for hypertension, GERD, migraines, COPD, back disability, neck disability, right upper extremity neuropathy, left upper extremity neuropathy, and left lower extremity radiculopathy are all granted. The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent for gunshot wound right buttock with sciatic nerve involvement (to include peripheral neuropathy right leg/foot), gunshot wound, left thigh, multiple painful scars bilateral lower extremities, and residuals, scar right buttock and lateral leg is remanded.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's PTSD symptoms do not meet the criteria for a higher rating as they are not severe enough to warrant a 100 percent rating. The evidence does not show gross impairment in thought processes or communication; persistent delusions or hallucinations; grossly inappropriate behavior; persistent danger of hurting self or others; intermittent inability to perform activities of daily living (including maintenance of minimal personal hygiene); disorientation to time or place; memory loss for names of close relatives, own occupation, or own name.
- Claimed conditions
- Residual, scar left medial thigh, status post gunshot wound, Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) with alcohol use disorder (AUD), Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), Back disability, degenerative disc disease (DDD) and postoperative HNP L3-L4, L4-L5, Neck disability, cervical DDD with nerve root impingement, Right upper extremity neuropathy due to cervical DDD with nerve root impingement, Left upper extremity neuropathy due to cervical DDD with nerve root impingement, Left lower extremity radiculopathy due to lumbar DDD
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 10%
- Decision date
- March 31, 2026
- Citation
- A26029125
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 A26029125.
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
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Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
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- Denied
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- Granted
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