The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation prior to July 5, 2018. The Board granted TDIU based on the combined disability rating of his service-connected conditions.
The deciding factor: The Veteran had multiple service-connected disabilities that prevented him from securing and maintaining substantially gainful employment due to physical and mental limitations caused by his lumbar spine disability and PTSD.
- Claimed conditions
- coronary artery disease, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), thoracolumbar degenerative disc disease, diabetes mellitus with diabetic peripheral neuropathy of bilateral lower extremities, tinnitus, hearing loss, left ear
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 70%
- Decision date
- August 19, 2019
- Citation
- 19164283
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 19164283.
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 appeal for a compensable rating for left ear hearing loss, service connection for right ear hearing loss, and bilateral vision condition was dismissed. Service connection for hypertension, congestive heart failure, and coronary artery disease was denied.
- Partly granted
The Veteran was granted a 70 percent initial disability rating for PTSD effective December 2, 2021, but the claim for an increased rating in excess of 70 percent was denied. The appeal also included claims for service connection and ratings for various conditions, some of which were granted while others were remanded.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for service connection for tinnitus to correct a duty to assist error, as the Veteran's lay statements regarding onset and continuity of symptoms were not adequately considered in the previous decision.
- Dismissed
The Veteran withdrew the appeals for service connection for bilateral pes planus, obstructive sleep apnea, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
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