The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, and the Board has granted entitlement to TDIU.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's cervical spine disability with bilateral radiculopathy significantly impacts his ability to perform work activities that require lifting or driving, meeting the criteria for TDIU based on unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.
- Claimed conditions
- GERD with Barrett's esophagus, degenerative changes of the cervical spine, radiculopathy of the right upper extremity associated with the degenerative changes of the cervical spine, radiculopathy of the left upper extremity associated with the degenerative changes of the cervical spine, tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, linear below the chin right midline part of neck, status post excision of chronic nonspecific lymphadenitis
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 70%
- Decision date
- March 9, 2017
- Citation
- 1707358
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 1707358.
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.
- Dismissed
The Veteran's appeal for service connection of bilateral hearing loss and a ruptured right ear drum was dismissed due to the death of the Veteran.
- Denied
The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was noted upon entry into active duty service and did not increase in severity during service. Therefore, it denied his claim for service connection.
- 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.
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