The Veteran's service-connected conditions, including ischemic heart disease, lumbosacral strain, and peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities, prevented him from securing or maintaining substantially gainful employment.
The deciding factor: The combined effect of multiple service-connected disabilities rendered the Veteran unable to perform even sedentary work due to chronic pain, numbness, instability, and fatigue.
- Claimed conditions
- Ischemic heart disease (IHD), Lumbosacral strain, Left knee total replacement, Diabetes mellitus, type II with erectile dysfunction, Peripheral neuropathy of the left lower extremity, Diabetic peripheral neuropathy of the right lower extremity, Radiculopathy of the left lower extremity femoral nerve, Radiculopathy of the right lower extremity femoral nerve, Degenerative joint disease of the left ankle, Residuals of fracture, second right toe, Bilateral hearing loss, Scar, scalp laceration, Residuals of fracture, right first toe, Residuals of fracture, left fifth toe, Residual anterior chest surgical scar, Scar, left knee
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 60%
- Decision date
- September 8, 2023
- Citation
- 23049799
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 23049799.
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 claim for a low back disorder was reopened, and his claims for increased ratings of bilateral knee instability were granted. His hearing loss claim was denied.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's appeals of the initial ratings for his service-connected chronic cough and bilateral hearing loss are remanded due to procedural errors in the evidentiary record.
- Granted
The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including bilateral pes planus with hammer toes, hallux valgus and degenerative arthritis, sleep apnea, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and bilateral kidney cysts, rendered him unable to secure or follow gainful employment. The Board granted the TDIU based on these conditions.
- Denied
The Veteran's service-connected disabilities (bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus) do not prevent him from securing and maintaining substantially gainful employment.
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