The Veteran is entitled to a total disability evaluation based on individual unemployability prior to February 13, 2015 due to his service-connected disabilities. On or after February 13, 2015, the combined rating of his service-connected disabilities does not meet the criteria for TDIU.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's combined evaluation was 90 percent prior to February 13, 2015, meeting the schedular requirement for TDIU. Since then, he has a combined evaluation of 70 percent with one service-connected disability other than depression and alcoholism not rendering him unemployable.
- Claimed conditions
- Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Depression, Alcoholism, Sleep Apnea, Tension Headaches, Left Shoulder Rotator Cuff Impingement, Right Shoulder Rotator Cuff Impingement, Right Knee Infrapatellar Tendonitis, Left Knee Infrapatellar Tendonitis, Chronic Low Back Strain, Chronic Cervical Strain, Tinnitus, Left Testicle Varicocele
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 90%
- Decision date
- September 8, 2023
- Citation
- 23049912
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 23049912.
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 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.
- Denied
The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 50% since March 23, 2004. The Board found that a higher rating is not warranted prior to February 15, 2005 due to the severity of his symptoms and their impact on his social and occupational functioning.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and any acquired psychiatric disorder, finding that there was no evidence to support a link between his current mental health conditions and his military service.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are not related to his military service.
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