The Board has granted service connection for Major Depressive Disorder as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected tinnitus. The Veteran meets the criteria for a TDIU based on his combined rating of 60 percent from his service-connected disabilities.
The deciding factor: Service connection was established because the Veteran's MDD is found to be related to his service-connected tinnitus, and he meets the schedular requirements for a TDIU due to his combined disability ratings.
- Claimed conditions
- Major Depressive Disorder, Severe Sensorineural Hearing Loss (left ear), Profound Mixed Hearing Loss (right ear), Tinnitus
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 60%
- Decision date
- May 20, 2009
- Citation
- 0918837
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 0918837.
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 bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are not related to his military service.
- Granted
The Veteran's major depressive disorder is found to be caused by his service-connected low back and radiculopathy disabilities, which prevent him from doing enjoyable activities and daily living tasks.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claims for an increased rating for PTSD and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including a new VA examination.
- Denied
The Board denied the veteran's claims for a higher rating for PTSD and dismissed his appeals regarding increased ratings for tinnitus and a right hand disability due to lack of timely filing of Notice of Disagreement.
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