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Granted

The Veteran's service-connected left hip disability rendered him unemployable as of May 2002, and his effective date for the TDIU should have been May 2002. This would mean that he had continuously rated as totally disabled due to this condition for at least ten years prior to his death in November 2012, qualifying him for DIC benefits under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1318.

The deciding factor: The medical evidence supported the Veteran's claim of unemployability based on his service-connected left hip disability, which had been static and unchanged since at least May 2002.

Claimed conditions
Degenerative arthritis of the left hip, post-operative, with limitation of motion, shortening, and atrophy of the left leg
How they argued it
Direct service connection
Exposure basis
None
Rating
Not verified here — check the original decision
Decision date
December 8, 2016
Citation
1646179

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. Search VA.gov for the original decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 1646179.

What this means for you

A grant means the Board allowed the benefit or issue identified in this decision. Review the original order: other issues in the same appeal may have a different outcome, and this decision does not predict another claim.

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