The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including left knee osteoarthritis, PTSD, CAD, right ankle osteoarthritis, and shrapnel wound scars, are rated at a combined 90 percent. The Board finds that these conditions render the Veteran unable to maintain substantially gainful employment due to their severity and nature.
The deciding factor: The combined rating of 90% for service-connected disabilities renders the Veteran eligible for a TDIU rating as per VA regulations.
- Claimed conditions
- left knee osteoarthritis, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), coronary artery disease (CAD), right ankle osteoarthritis, varicose veins, tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, shrapnel wound left knee scars, shrapnel wound right ankle scars
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 90%
- Decision date
- November 21, 2018
- Citation
- 18152416
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 18152416.
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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