The Veteran's service-connected Generalized Anxiety Disorder, combined with other service-connected disabilities, rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation as of May 1, 2018. The Board granted an effective date of May 1, 2018 for the award of TDIU and SMC at the housebound rate.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's service-connected Generalized Anxiety Disorder increased in severity to the point that it alone rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation as of May 1, 2018. The combined rating for his service-connected disabilities was 100% from January 28, 2014.
- Claimed conditions
- Generalized Anxiety Disorder, Migraine Headaches, OSA (Obstructive Sleep Apnea), Chronic Sinusitis, Allergic Rhinitis, Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) with Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD), Left Elbow Medial Epicondylitis, Bilateral Hearing Loss
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 100%
- Decision date
- July 8, 2024
- Citation
- A24036246
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 A24036246.
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 bilateral hearing loss is granted as service-connected. The claims for alcohol abuse and psychiatric disorder are remanded for additional development, including a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of these conditions.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the case due to a need for a new VA examination to assess the current severity of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss. The issue remains under direct service connection theory.
- Denied
The Veteran's hearing loss was rated at 30 percent, the highest non-compensable rating available. The Board found that his hearing loss did not warrant a higher rating based on VA examinations and medical records.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that there was no evidence of a nexus between his current hearing loss and his active service. The Board noted that while he had complaints of earaches in service, these did not indicate a current disability.
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