The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including anxiety disorder, right shoulder degenerative joint disease, cervical spine degenerative disc disease, lumbar spinal degenerative disc disease, vertigo associated with mild TBI, and shin splints status post stress fracture, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation for the entire appeal period.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, particularly his anxiety disorder and related cognitive impairments, severely impacted his ability to perform even light-duty employment, necessitating a TDIU award.
- Claimed conditions
- Anxiety Disorder, Right Shoulder Degenerative Joint Disease, Cervical Spine Degenerative Disc Disease, Lumbar Spinal Degenerative Disc Disease, Vertigo Associated with Mild TBI, Shin Splints Status Post Stress Fracture
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 70%
- Decision date
- December 14, 2023
- Citation
- 23066101
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 23066101.
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.
- Denied
The Veteran's initial ratings for anxiety disorder and TBI were denied as the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating.
- Denied
The Board denied eligibility to attorney fees based on past-due benefits awarded in a March 2024 rating decision because the March 2024 rating decision was an initial decision granting service connection for anxiety disorder.
- Granted
The Veteran's TDIU claim is granted, and service connection for IBS as secondary to anxiety disorder is granted. Service connection for non-Hodgkin lymphoma is denied due to lack of presumptive basis. Service connection for CHF with bradycardia and pacemaker as secondary to hypertension is granted.
- Denied
The Veteran's service-connected major depression and anxiety disorder are considered part of his service-connected peripheral neuropathy, which already qualifies him for SMC(l). Therefore, he is not eligible for a higher rate of SMC.
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