The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an extraschedular TDIU prior to July 28, 2014 due to his service-connected disabilities not meeting the schedular criteria. From July 28, 2014, the Board granted a TDIU based on the evidence showing that the Veteran’s service-connected disabilities prevented him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's combined rating of 60 percent for his service-connected disabilities did not meet the schedular criteria for a TDIU prior to July 28, 2014. However, from that date onward, the evidence showed that his disabilities prevented him from securing and following substantially gainful employment.
- Claimed conditions
- bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, degenerative arthritis and spinal stenosis of the lumbar spine, decreased grip strength of the right hand, decreased grip strength of the left hand, arthritis of the left hand, arthritis of the right hand, scars of the right and left fourth fingers
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 60%
- Decision date
- April 16, 2020
- Citation
- 20026310
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 20026310.
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's appeal for service connection of bilateral hearing loss and a ruptured right ear drum was dismissed due to the death of the Veteran.
- Denied
The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was noted upon entry into active duty service and did not increase in severity during service. Therefore, it denied his claim for service connection.
- 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.
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