The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including major depressive disorder and degenerative joint diseases in multiple areas of the body, have rendered him unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment. The Board has granted a TDIU based on this finding.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's severe mental health symptoms (major depressive disorder) and physical limitations (degenerative joint disease, cervical spine, left ankle instability, thoracic spine, hemorrhoids, inguinal hernia, umbilical hernia, and left ankle scar) have made it impossible for him to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment.
- Claimed conditions
- Major depressive disorder, Anxiety disorder not otherwise specified, Degenerative joint disease, cervical spine, Residuals, left ankle repair, Right ankle instability, Degenerative joint disease, thoracic spine, Hemorrhoids, Left inguinal hernia, Umbilical hernia, Left ankle scar
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 80%
- Decision date
- May 28, 2019
- Citation
- A19000408
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 1,549 · Granted: 26% (granted or partly granted, in the vetted decisions on this site)
Judge attribution: 2025 complete; earlier years partial.
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 A19000408.
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 Veteran's service-connected major depressive disorder does not render him in need of regular aid and attendance or confined to his home, thus SMC based on housebound status and/or need for regular aid and attendance is denied.
- Granted
The Veteran is granted special monthly compensation (SMC) at the (o) rate and SMC at the (r)(2) rate, effective January 19, 2025. The decision finds that the Veteran's service-connected conditions warrant these awards due to his need for aid and attendance.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including major depressive disorder, as secondary to his already service-connected hearing loss and tinnitus.
- Dismissed
The Veteran withdrew his appeal for an increased evaluation of his hemorrhoids, so the case is dismissed.
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