The Veteran was unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation due to his service-connected disabilities, which prevented him from performing tasks involving frequent standing or walking. The Board granted the TDIU based on these conditions.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's service-connected disabilities (including lung cancer, coronary artery disease, peripheral vascular diseases, diabetes mellitus, and neuropathy) made it impossible for him to perform sedentary work due to his heart condition causing fatigue and shortness of breath.
- Claimed conditions
- Lung cancer, Metastasis to left humerus and C7 vertebral body associated with lung cancer, Coronary artery disease status post bypass grafts, Peripheral vascular disease right lower extremity, Peripheral vascular disease left lower extremity, Diabetes mellitus, type II, Peripheral neuropathy right lower extremity, Peripheral neuropathy left lower extremity, Peripheral neuropathy left upper extremity, Peripheral neuropathy right upper extremity
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 100%
- Decision date
- January 11, 2021
- Citation
- 21001673
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 21001673.
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 Veteran's headache disability is granted as service-connected. The left foot condition and lung cancer claims are remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to a duty to assist error, specifically regarding the lack of development related to Agent Orange exposure and solvent/asbestos exposure.
- Granted
The Board has granted effective dates of August 10, 2022 for hypertension and July 25, 2023 for diabetes mellitus, type II, bilateral lower extremity diabetic peripheral neuropathy, a bilateral hearing loss disability, and tinnitus.,The Veteran's conditions were found to have manifested no later than the dates specified in their respective effective dates.
- Denied
The Board denied an earlier effective date for DIC benefits, finding that the Appellant's claim was not properly reopened and that the earliest available effective date is June 14, 2021.
Free starter guide for your own claim
Reading this because you were denied or under-rated? Get the plain-English next steps — your appeal options, the deadline that protects you, and how appeals like yours turn out. One email, no spam.
We will only use this to send the guide. No spam, unsubscribe any time. We never sell your information.
We are not the VA. Veterans’ Rights is an independent resource built for veterans. We are not the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, not part of the government, and not endorsed by any government agency.
This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.