The Board has granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities, as the veteran's service-connected conditions prevent him from engaging in substantially gainful employment.
The deciding factor: The veteran's service-connected obstructive lung disease with emphysema and bronchiectasis, diabetes mellitus, tinnitus, gastroesophageal reflux, sliding hiatal hernia and history of Barrett's esophagitis, bilateral hearing loss, scars of both hands, and facial scars on the right side of the nose and above the right eyebrow prevent him from engaging in substantially gainful employment.
- Claimed conditions
- obstructive lung disease with emphysema and bronchiectasis, diabetes mellitus, tinnitus, gastroesophageal reflux, sliding hiatal hernia and history of Barrett's esophagitis, bilateral hearing loss, scars of both hands, facial scars on the right side of the nose and above the right eyebrow
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 60%
- Decision date
- September 29, 2003
- Citation
- 0325537
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 0325537.
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.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for asthma and remanded claims for insomnia and sleep apnea. Other conditions were denied.
- Dismissed
The Veteran withdrew the appeals for service connection for bilateral pes planus, obstructive sleep apnea, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for multiple conditions, including bilateral hearing loss and various musculoskeletal issues, as well as an initial rating in excess of 0 percent for rhinitis. However, the Board granted a 70 percent rating for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for service connection for tinnitus to correct a duty to assist error, as the Veteran's lay statements regarding onset and continuity of symptoms were not adequately considered in the previous decision.
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