The Veteran is granted TDIU based on his service-connected PTSD, coronary artery disease, and bilateral hearing loss preventing him from securing or maintaining substantially gainful employment.,The effective date for DEA benefits is set at May 6, 2014 due to the Veteran's permanent total service-connected disability.,The Veteran's PTSD with major depressive disorder and alcohol abuse was rated at 70 percent prior to March 1, 2016. The claim for a higher rating remains pending.
The deciding factor: The combined effects of the Veteran’s service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.,Basic eligibility for DEA benefits is granted based on permanent total service-connected disability since May 6, 2014.,PTSD with major depressive disorder and alcohol abuse was rated at 70 percent prior to March 1, 2016.
- Claimed conditions
- PTSD, Coronary artery disease, Bilateral hearing loss
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 70%
- Decision date
- April 2, 2019
- Citation
- 19123822
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 1,893 · Granted: 31% (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 19123822.
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 Board of Veterans' Appeals has granted service connection for PTSD and Mood Disorders, both presumed conditions under the PACT Act.
- Partly granted
The Board has not made a final determination on the claims of service connection for inguinal hernia, PTSD, joint pain, fibromyalgia, left knee disability, right knee disability, tinnitus, chronic fatigue syndrome, respiratory disability, sleep disorder, IBS, and headaches. The claims are remanded to obtain additional evidence and determine if these conditions are related to 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.
- Granted
The Veteran's claim of service connection for PTSD was granted with an initial evaluation of 50 percent, effective September 24, 2007. The appeal regarding the heart condition and sleep disorder is denied. The Veteran's hearing loss prior to August 24, 2015, warrants a 20 percent rating.
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