The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including traumatic arthritis of the left ankle, right and left knee chondromalacia, tinnitus, and bilateral hearing loss, prevent him from maintaining substantially gainful employment. The Board has granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) for the entire period from June 2, 2008.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's service-connected disabilities cause significant functional limitations that preclude his ability to perform substantial gainful employment.
- Claimed conditions
- Traumatic arthritis of the left ankle, Right knee chondromalacia, Left knee chondromalacia, Tinnitus, Bilateral hearing loss
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 100%
- Decision date
- December 4, 2018
- Citation
- 18154756
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 18154756.
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 service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are not related to his military service.
- Granted
The Veteran's claim for a low back disorder was reopened, and his claims for increased ratings of bilateral knee instability were granted. His hearing loss claim was denied.
- Denied
The Board denied the veteran's claims for a higher rating for PTSD and dismissed his appeals regarding increased ratings for tinnitus and a right hand disability due to lack of timely filing of Notice of Disagreement.
- Denied
The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including GAD, MDD, bruxism, migraines/headaches, tinnitus, hip pain, iliotibial band syndrome, and leg stress fractures. The evidence does not support current diagnoses of these conditions during the appeal period.
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