The veteran's service-connected disabilities prevent him from maintaining substantial gainful employment, and a TDIU rating is granted.
The deciding factor: The veteran's service-connected disabilities (left pleural cavity injury, left shoulder GSW residuals, PTSD) are rated at 40%, 30%, and 30% respectively, resulting in a combined rating of 70%. The VA examiner found the veteran unable to secure or follow a substantial gainful occupation due to his service-connected disabilities.
- Claimed conditions
- Left pleural cavity injury, residual of a gunshot wound (GSW) with fracture of the 4th and 5th ribs, Residuals of a GSW to the left shoulder, involving Muscle Group III, Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 70%
- Decision date
- October 17, 2002
- Citation
- 0214545
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 0214545.
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.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for Meniere's disease, to include benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV), secondary to tinnitus and dismissed the claims for a left knee disability, right knee disability, and post-traumatic stress disorder.
- Partly granted
The Board granted a 30 percent evaluation for left knee limited flexion and a 20 percent evaluation for left knee instability, but denied an increased rating for PTSD.
- Partly granted
The Board denied earlier effective dates for service connection for congestive heart failure and PTSD, granted a TDIU due to service-connected PTSD, and granted special monthly compensation based on housebound criteria.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for degenerative joint disease of the right hip, left hip, and left shoulder, as well as PTSD. The claim for a higher rating for the right knee scar was denied.
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