The Veteran's service-connected disabilities meet the schedular criteria for a TDIU, and the evidence is at least in relative equipoise concerning whether these disabilities preclude him from obtaining or maintaining employment that could be considered substantially gainful versus just marginal in comparison.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's service-connected disabilities are sufficient to meet the schedular criteria for a TDIU, and his mental health disability does not prevent him from performing sedentary work. However, considering all factors, including his communication impairment due to hearing loss, fatigue from PTSD, and concentration limitations attributable to PTSD and tinnitus, the evidence is at least in relative equipoise concerning whether he can obtain substantially gainful employment.
- Claimed conditions
- Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Residuals of a shell fragment wound to the right chest involving injury to Muscle Group II, Pleural cavity injury with retained foreign body, Bilateral hearing loss, Tinnitus
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 70%
- Decision date
- July 23, 2014
- Citation
- 1432964
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 1432964.
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.
- Granted
The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD is granted as the evidence shows a current diagnosis of PTSD, an in-service stressor, and a medical link between the two.
- Denied
The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 50% since March 23, 2004. The Board found that a higher rating is not warranted prior to February 15, 2005 due to the severity of his symptoms and their impact on his social and occupational functioning.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and any acquired psychiatric disorder, finding that there was no evidence to support a link between his current mental health conditions and his military service.
- 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.
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