The Veteran's combined disability rating is at least as high as the threshold for TDIU, and he is unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation due to his service-connected disabilities. The Board has granted TDIU effective June 15, 2017.
The deciding factor: The Veteran meets the schedular requirement for TDIU based on his combined disability rating of at least 60 percent and is unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation due to his service-connected disabilities, including his major depressive disorder and alcohol use disorder.
- Claimed conditions
- Mood Disorder with Alcohol and Substance Induced Mood Disorder, Gouty Arthritis of Both Lower Extremities, Hypertension, Lumbar Strain with Disc Disease, Bilateral Hearing Loss
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 80%
- Decision date
- June 11, 2018
- Citation
- 18109779
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 18109779.
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.
- Granted
The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is granted as service-connected. The claims for alcohol abuse and psychiatric disorder are remanded for additional development, including a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of these conditions.
- Denied
The Board denied the claim of service connection for hypertension, finding that it did not manifest during service and is not causally related to the Veteran's exposure to herbicides or service.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the case due to a need for a new VA examination to assess the current severity of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss. The issue remains under direct service connection theory.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension, finding that there was no evidence of a nexus between his current condition and active duty service or herbicide exposure.
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