The Veteran's death was caused by a myocardial infarction, which the Board finds is at least as likely as not due to his service-connected musculoskeletal disabilities.,The Veteran meets the criteria for a TDIU from May 2, 2011.
The deciding factor: Service connection has been granted for the Veteran's right ankle, left knee, and low back conditions. The medical evidence supports that these conditions contributed to his development of coronary artery disease, which led to his death.,The Veteran meets the schedular criteria for a TDIU as he is service connected for multiple disabilities (60% combined rating) and has been unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment due to his service-connected disabilities.
- Claimed conditions
- chronic lumbosacral strain with degenerative changes at L5-S1, fracture of the right ankle with post-traumatic changes and synovitis, fractured left patella, post-operative with degenerative traumatic arthritis
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 60%
- Decision date
- September 16, 2020
- Citation
- 20061149
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 20061149.
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.
- Denied
The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected lumbar myositis, psychoneurosis and conversion hysteria, residuals of shrapnel wounds of the left thigh and pelvis with retained foreign bodies and scars, and residuals of shell fragment wounds of the right thigh and left leg. The veteran was also denied entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for his service-connected coronary artery disease, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating based on the severity of his condition.
- Denied
The Veteran's service-connected musculoligamentous strain, right knee, is currently rated at 10 percent and the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted.
- Granted
The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD is granted as the evidence shows a current diagnosis of PTSD, an in-service stressor, and a medical link between the two.
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