The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including coronary artery disease and diabetic nephropathy, rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment consistent with his education and job skills. The Board granted entitlement to a total disability rating for compensation based on individual unemployability.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's significant disabilities (most notably heart disease and diabetes mellitus) and the restricted occupational opportunities facing him due to his limited work experience and educational background precluded him from participating in any regular substantially gainful employment consistent with his education and occupational experience.
- Claimed conditions
- coronary artery disease, diabetic nephropathy, adjustment disorder, diabetic mellitus, tinea pedis, diabetic peripheral neuropathy (left lower extremity), diabetic peripheral neuropathy (right lower extremity), diabetic peripheral neuropathy (left upper extremity), diabetic peripheral neuropathy (right upper extremity), hearing loss
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 80%
- Decision date
- June 15, 2017
- Citation
- 1722130
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 1722130.
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 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.
- Granted
The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus. However, it was determined that the Veteran does not have a current disability of bilateral hearing loss or tinnitus for VA purposes, thus denying both claims.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for coronary artery disease is being remanded due to the inadequacy of a previous VA examination.
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