The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, degenerative joint disease of the right hand, left ear hearing loss, bilateral tinnitus, and a right hand scar, have rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment. The Board has granted entitlement to TDIU based on these conditions.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's service-connected disabilities caused significant impairments in his ability to work, including PTSD symptoms that affected his occupational performance, hearing loss and tinnitus that made certain jobs difficult, and hand conditions that limited his manual dexterity. These combined effects precluded him from securing or maintaining substantially gainful employment.
- Claimed conditions
- PTSD, Degenerative Joint Disease of the Right Hand, Left Ear Hearing Loss, Bilateral Tinnitus, Right Hand Scar
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 70%
- Decision date
- March 13, 2024
- Citation
- 24011888
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 24011888.
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 right ring finger disability and associated right hand scar are each rated at 10 percent. The Veteran is granted a separate 10 percent rating for his right hand scar, effective March 9, 2007. Separate ratings of 10 percent are assigned for peripheral neuropathy with carpal tunnel syndrome in both upper extremities and for peripheral neuropathy in the lower extremities.
- Partly granted
The Board has not made a final determination on the claims of service connection for inguinal hernia, PTSD, joint pain, fibromyalgia, left knee disability, right knee disability, tinnitus, chronic fatigue syndrome, respiratory disability, sleep disorder, IBS, and headaches. The claims are remanded to obtain additional evidence and determine if these conditions are related to service.
- Granted
The Veteran's claim of service connection for PTSD was granted with an initial evaluation of 50 percent, effective September 24, 2007. The appeal regarding the heart condition and sleep disorder is denied. The Veteran's hearing loss prior to August 24, 2015, warrants a 20 percent rating.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder to ensure a proper examination and etiology opinion are provided.
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