The Veteran meets the percentage requirements for TDIU as he has one service-connected disability rated at 60 percent or more and his combined service-connected disabilities are rated at 90 percent. The evidence demonstrates that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevent him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's combined service-connected disabilities meet the schedular requirements for TDIU as one disability is rated at least 60% and his total rating is 90%. His service-connected conditions, including bilateral hearing loss, PTSD with depression, degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, radiculopathy, tinnitus, skin growths, prevent him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.
- Claimed conditions
- Bilateral Hearing Loss, Acquired Psychiatric Disorder (Posttraumatic Stress Disorder with Depression), Degenerative Disc Disease of the Lumbar Spine with Status Post Laminectomy, Hemilaminectomy, and Discectomy, Right Lower Extremity Radiculopathy, Left Lower Extremity Radiculopathy, Tinnitus, Skin Growth on Right Temporal Area, Skin Growth on Left Hand, Skin Growth on Left Scapula, Skin Growth on Back
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 90%
- Decision date
- November 16, 2015
- Citation
- 1548125
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 1548125.
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 bilateral hearing loss is granted as service-connected. The claims for alcohol abuse and psychiatric disorder are remanded for additional development, including a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of these conditions.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the case due to a need for a new VA examination to assess the current severity of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss. The issue remains under direct service connection theory.
- Denied
The Veteran's hearing loss was rated at 30 percent, the highest non-compensable rating available. The Board found that his hearing loss did not warrant a higher rating based on VA examinations and medical records.
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