The Veteran is unable to secure and maintain substantially gainful employment due to the severity of her service-connected disabilities, which include bronchiectasis with recurrent bronchitis and pneumothoraces (60 percent), painful scars associated with bronchiectasis (20 percent), bilateral varicose veins (10 percent), migraine headaches (10 percent), varicose veins of the right leg (10 percent), and tinnitus (10 percent). The Board finds that her service-connected disabilities alone have rendered her unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, and grants TDIU.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including bronchiectasis with recurrent bronchitis and pneumothoraces, painful scars associated with bronchiectasis, bilateral varicose veins, migraine headaches, varicose veins of the right leg, and tinnitus, have rendered her unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.
- Claimed conditions
- bronchiectasis with recurrent bronchitis, pneumothoraces, painful scars associated with bronchiectasis with recurrent bronchitis and pneumothoraces, migraine headaches, varicose veins of the right leg, varicose veins of the left leg, tinnitus
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 80%
- Decision date
- October 18, 2010
- Citation
- 1038954
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 1038954.
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.
- 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.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus, arthritis, and memory loss. The decision found no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral hearing loss, migraine headaches, and PTSD due to additional development of records and examination.
- Granted
The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service connected. The issues of foot disability and cardiovascular disorder are remanded for additional development.
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