The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, PTSD, and residuals of shell fragment wounds to the back and right leg, as well as osteoarthritis of the right knee, preclude him from obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment due to his education and occupational experience. The Board has determined that he meets the criteria for a TDIU.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and residuals of shell fragment wounds to the back and right leg, as well as osteoarthritis of the right knee, preclude him from engaging in substantially gainful employment due to his age-related functional impairments.
- Claimed conditions
- bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), residuals of a shell fragment wound to the middle one-third of the back with a healed scar, residuals of a shell fragment wound to the right leg, osteoarthritis of the right knee
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 70%
- Decision date
- August 20, 2010
- Citation
- 1031489
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 1031489.
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.
- Dismissed
The Veteran's appeal for service connection of bilateral hearing loss and a ruptured right ear drum was dismissed due to the death of the Veteran.
- Denied
The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was noted upon entry into active duty service and did not increase in severity during service. Therefore, it denied his claim for service connection.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for hearing loss, tinnitus, and an acquired psychiatric disorder due to incomplete medical records and need for further examination.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including bipolar disorder and PTSD. The Veteran will be asked to provide additional medical records and undergo a VA examination.
Free starter guide for your own claim
Reading this because you were denied or under-rated? Get the plain-English next steps — your appeal options, the deadline that protects you, and how appeals like yours turn out. One email, no spam.
We will only use this to send the guide. No spam, unsubscribe any time. We never sell your information.
We are not the VA. Veterans’ Rights is an independent resource built for veterans. We are not the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, not part of the government, and not endorsed by any government agency.
This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.