The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD and multiple physical injuries, have rendered him unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment.

The deciding factor: The Veteran's service-connected conditions, particularly his PTSD, have caused significant occupational impairment that prevents him from obtaining and maintaining any form of gainful employment consistent with his education and experience.

Claimed conditions

posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), thoracolumbar strain, residuals of a fracture of the third metatarsal on the right hand, tinnitus, multiple small bowel enterotomies with sigmoid colon laceration status post ostomy with repair, right upper lip scar, retained shrapnel on the bridge of the nose with a minor scar, residuals of a left metacarpal fracture, tear of the intranasal musical with fracture of the nose, retained shrapnel of the left ear with a minor scar, a superficial shrapnel wound with retained shrapnel in the right neck with a minor scar, a shrapnel wound with residual scars on the left forearm, upper arm, right lower leg, right upper leg, and left thigh, second degree burn of the lower back with a residual scar, a superficial shrapnel wound of the right thumb with retained shrapnel with a minor scar, a surgical scar on the abdomen associated with multiple small bowel enterotomies with sigmoid colon laceration status post ostomy with repair, a second degree burn of the bilateral hands with residual scars, a scar on the left chest from a chest tube

How they argued it

Direct service connection

Exposure basis

None

Rating assigned

80%

Decision date

August 5, 2014

Citation

1434851

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 1434851.