The veteran's combined evaluation for his service-connected disabilities as a result of a motor vehicle accident during service is 80 percent, which meets the criteria for TDIU. The VA examiner stated that the veteran was unable to maintain gainful employment due to his service-connected disabilities.
The deciding factor: The veteran's combined evaluation for his service-connected disabilities (80%) meets the schedular criteria for a total rating based on individual unemployability.
- Claimed conditions
- dysthymic disorder, splenectomy, residuals of a fracture of the left hip with arthritis, residuals of a fracture of the right tibia and fibula and right-sided arthritis, residuals of a left tibia ankle injury, residuals of an injury to the left upper arm, residuals of an injury to the left middle finger
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 80%
- Decision date
- April 28, 2003
- Citation
- 0308014
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 2,480 · Granted: 26% (granted or partly granted, in the vetted 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. Look up the original decision on VA.gov (opens in a new tab) using citation 0308014.
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 Veteran's service-connected conditions do not prevent him from securing substantially gainful employment, and therefore TDIU is denied.
- Dismissed
The Veteran withdrew their appeal for service connection of an acquired psychiatric disorder.
- Granted
The Veteran's dysthymic disorder disability was productive of total social and occupational impairment throughout the claim period, warranting a 100 percent disability rating.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claims for higher initial ratings for fibromyalgia and psychiatric disabilities, as well as his entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU), are being remanded due to the need for additional VA examinations.
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