The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, undiagnosed illness with chronic diarrhea (irritable bowel syndrome), tinnitus, and hearing loss, prevented him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation. The Board granted the TDIU claim based on the combined effect of these conditions.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, particularly PTSD, undiagnosed illness with chronic diarrhea (irritable bowel syndrome), tinnitus, and hearing loss, rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.
- Claimed conditions
- PTSD, undiagnosed illness manifested by chronic diarrhea (irritable bowel syndrome), tinnitus, hearing loss
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 80%
- Decision date
- October 17, 2019
- Citation
- 19179446
Veterans Law Judge
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 19179446.
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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for hearing loss, tinnitus, and an acquired psychiatric disorder due to incomplete medical records and need for further examination.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus, arthritis, and memory loss. The decision found no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.
- Granted
The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service connected. The issues of foot disability and cardiovascular disorder are remanded for additional development.
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