The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including dysthymic disorder, temporomandibular joint disorder, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and a bilateral foot condition, are found to be severe enough to prevent the Veteran from securing or following substantially gainful employment.
The deciding factor: The combined rating of 90% for service-connected disabilities is sufficient to meet the schedular criteria for TDIU. The evidence shows that these conditions have caused significant impairment in the Veteran's ability to work, including his dysthymic disorder causing occupational impairment and his hearing loss and tinnitus affecting his employment.
- Claimed conditions
- dysthymic disorder, temporomandibular joint disorder, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, pes planus
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 90%
- Decision date
- September 17, 2018
- Citation
- 18135811
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 18135811.
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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