The Veteran does not meet the criteria for SMC at the housebound rate during the period from April 1, 2000, to August 19, 2010, as he was not in receipt of a single service-connected disability rated as 100 percent and did not have disabilities independently ratable at 60 percent.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's TDIU during the period from April 1, 2000, to August 19, 2010, was based on multiple underlying disabilities (posttraumatic stress disorder, hearing loss, and tinnitus), which did not meet the requirement of a single service-connected disability rated as 100 percent.
- Claimed conditions
- posttraumatic stress disorder, coronary artery disease, tinnitus
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 50%
- Decision date
- December 28, 2015
- Citation
- 1553819
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 1553819.
What this means for you
A denial is a starting point, not the end of the road. You can see why this claim fell short — and, if you are still inside the one-year window, the appeal lanes that may remain open to you.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for his service-connected coronary artery disease, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating based on the severity of his condition.
- 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.
- 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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