The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including bilateral hearing loss and PTSD, have prevented him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation prior to February 8, 2011.
The deciding factor: The VA examiner determined that the Veteran’s service-connected conditions have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation due to their combined effects on his physical and mental health.
- Claimed conditions
- {"condition_name":"Bilateral Hearing Loss"}, {"condition_name":"Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)"}, {"condition_name":"Bilateral Pes Planus with Hallux Valgus Deformity and Numbness of the Feet"}, {"condition_name":"Arthritis of the Spine"}, {"condition_name":"Arthritis of the Left and Right Ankles"}, {"condition_name":"Diabetes Mellitus, Type II"}, {"condition_name":"Hypertension"}, {"condition_name":"Degenerative Changes of the Right Knee"}, {"condition_name":"Coronary Artery Disease"}, {"condition_name":"Detached Left Retina"}, {"condition_name":"Hiatal Hernia Duodenal Diverticulum"}, {"condition_name":"Tinea Pedis (Athlete's Foot)"}, {"condition_name":"Surgical Scar"}, {"condition_name":"Erectile Dysfunction"}
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- October 23, 2019
- Citation
- 19180649
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 19180649.
What this means for you
A remand is not a loss. The Board sent the case back for more development — often a new exam or missing records — before making a final decision. Many remands later end in a grant, and the decision spells out exactly what the Board wanted to see.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, effective from the date of the February 2025 rating decision.
- Remanded (sent back)
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- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for a rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD due to an inadequate medical opinion.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for myasthenia gravis based on the Veteran's exposure to hazardous substances during his military service.
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