The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation, warranting entitlement to TDIU.
The deciding factor: The combined rating for the service-connected disabilities has been at least 90 percent since March 2003, meeting the schedular requirements. The VA examiners concluded that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities (alone) render him incapable of participating in a substantially gainful occupation.
- Claimed conditions
- sleep apnea, degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine, degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, residuals of a left knee injury, postoperative lateral meniscus tear, tinnitus, migraine headaches, degenerative disc disease, cervical spine, neurological manifestations of the right upper extremity with carpal tunnel syndrome and radiculopathy, degenerative disc disease, cervical spine, neurological manifestations of the left upper extremity with carpal tunnel syndrome and radiculopathy, degenerative disc disease, lumbar spine, neurological manifestations of the right lower extremity with radiculopathy and piriformis syndrome, major depression
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 90%
- Decision date
- November 15, 2017
- Citation
- 1752429
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 1752429.
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.
- 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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case for additional development regarding the Veteran's service connection claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral hearing loss, migraine headaches, and PTSD due to additional development of records and examination.
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