The Veteran's TDIU claim is granted, and he is awarded a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to his service-connected disabilities. The effective date for the increased ratings for hearing loss and heart disease are denied.
The deciding factor: The Veteran’s combined evaluation of 80 percent meets the criteria for TDIU as one 60 percent disability (heart disease) plus another 40 percent disability (bilateral hearing loss).
- Claimed conditions
- bilateral high frequency sensorineural hearing loss, arteriosclerotic status-post stent placement with atrial fibrillation, bilateral hearing loss, heart disease, arteriosclerotic
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 80%
- Decision date
- November 14, 2019
- Citation
- 19185488
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 Veteran withdrew the appeals for service connection for bilateral pes planus, obstructive sleep apnea, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for multiple conditions, including bilateral hearing loss and various musculoskeletal issues, as well as an initial rating in excess of 0 percent for rhinitis. However, the Board granted a 70 percent rating for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
- Partly granted
The Veteran's tinnitus is granted, while fibromyalgia, internal or external hemorrhoids, bilateral hearing loss, and neuropathy are denied.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding it at least as likely as not related to the Veteran's in-service noise exposure.
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