The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, degenerative joint disease of the right elbow, postoperative residuals of a cubital tunnel release of the right wrist, and bilateral hearing loss, have been found to preclude him from obtaining or maintaining gainful employment consistent with his education and occupational experience, warranting a total disability rating based on individual unemployability.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, particularly PTSD, significantly impair his ability to work in a sedentary environment, leading to frequent job terminations due to conflicts with co-workers or supervisors.
- Claimed conditions
- headaches, body pains, skin disability
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 100%
- Decision date
- January 5, 2022
- Citation
- 22000420
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.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for headaches and increased ratings for left shoulder rotator cuff tear, right shoulder rotator cuff tear, hypertension, and left and right leg restless leg syndrome. The Board denied a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss and an initial rating in excess of 70 percent for posttraumatic stress disorder.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for an increased initial disability evaluation of headaches due to an inadequate VA examination.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for multiple disabilities, including cervical spine and thoracolumbar spine disabilities, radiculopathies, a bladder disability, headaches, a left knee disability, an acquired psychiatric disorder, and bilateral conjunctivitis. The Board also granted entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disability.
- Dismissed
The appeals for restoration of ratings and for a higher disability rating were dismissed as the April 2025 rating decision did not make final decisions on these issues.
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