The Veteran is granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.,The Veteran's TDIU claim for osteoarthritis of the left ankle, bilateral pes planus with plantar fasciitis, and duodenal ulcer is granted.,TDIU is also granted for hallux valgus of the right foot and hallux valgus of the left foot as these conditions are separately rated at 10 percent each.,The effective dates for the separate grants of service connection and evaluations for hallux valgus of the right foot and hallux valgus of the left foot are set to August 18, 2014.,TDIU is also granted for duodenal ulcer as it is rated at 60 percent.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment. The combined effect of his service-connected conditions has led to TDIU.
- Claimed conditions
- duodenal ulcer, bilateral pes planus with plantar fasciitis, osteoarthritis of the left ankle, hallux valgus of the right foot, hallux valgus of the left foot
- How they argued it
- Not specified
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 100%
- Decision date
- May 17, 2019
- Citation
- 19138687
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 2,592 · Granted: 19% (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 19138687.
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 Veteran's service connection claims for various conditions, including adjustment disorder, benign skin lesions, actinic keratosis, poikiloderma, porokeratosis, Parkinson's disease, benign prostatic hypertrophy, hypertension, increased urinary frequency, diverticulosis, duodenal ulcer, and bilateral cataracts are all granted due to exposure to herbicide agents, mustard gas, and ionizing radiation during service.
- Denied
The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations and earlier effective dates were denied. Service connection for irritable bowel syndrome was also denied.
- Granted
The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, coronary arteriosclerosis, and multiple joint issues, have rendered him unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment since July 26, 2023. The Board has granted an effective date of that day for the award of a total disability evaluation based on individual unemployability (TDIU).
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for Special Monthly Compensation (SMC) based on need for aid and attendance or housebound status due to his service-connected disabilities, finding that he does not meet the criteria for SMC as his disabilities do not render him unable to care for most of his daily personal needs without regular personal assistance from others.
Free starter guide for your own claim
Reading this because you were denied or under-rated? Get the plain-English next steps — your appeal options, the deadline that protects you, and how appeals like yours turn out. One email, no spam.
We will only use this to send the guide. No spam, unsubscribe any time. We never sell your information.
We are not the VA. Veterans’ Rights is an independent resource built for veterans. We are not the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, not part of the government, and not endorsed by any government agency.
This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.