The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including major depressive disorder and lumbar strain with scoliosis, render him unable to secure or maintain a substantially gainful occupation.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's major depressive disorder, rated at 70 percent disabling, singularly prevents him from securing or following any substantially gainful occupation due to cognitive difficulties, difficulty concentrating, lack of sleep, and other psychiatric symptoms.
- Claimed conditions
- major depressive disorder, unspecified, lumbar strain with scoliosis, left lower extremity radiculopathy (sciatic nerve), right lower extremity radiculopathy (sciatic nerve), tinnitus, hearing loss
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 90%
- Decision date
- October 25, 2023
- Citation
- A23029710
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 A23029710.
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.
- 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.
- Granted
The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service connected. The issues of foot disability and cardiovascular disorder are remanded for additional development.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that it is at least as likely as not that the Veteran experienced tinnitus during his active duty service.
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