The Board granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities, but denied an initial rating in excess of 70 percent for TBI with a psychiatric disability.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's TBI residuals and associated psychiatric conditions caused occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas, but not total occupational and social impairment or total impairment in any facet related to TBI. However, the service-connected disabilities made the Veteran incapable of securing or maintaining a substantially gainful occupation.
- Claimed conditions
- Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) with a psychiatric disability, Generalized Anxiety Disorder, Recurrent Severe Major Depressive Disorder, Migraine Headaches, Peripheral Vestibular Disorder
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 100%
- Decision date
- April 21, 2025
- Citation
- A25036778
What this means for you
A partial grant means some issues were granted while others were denied or remanded — common in multi-issue claims. Look at which issues went which way, and how each was argued.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for PTSD, generalized anxiety disorder, and somatic symptom disorder, as well as presumptive service connection for basal cell carcinoma under the PACT Act. Service connection was denied for chronic fatigue syndrome, irritable bowel syndrome, right restless leg syndrome, left restless leg syndrome, an increased rating for psychiatric disorder, bilateral hearing loss, a left forehead surgical scar, and allergic rhinitis.
- Granted
The Board granted a staged disability rating of 70 percent for the service-connected generalized anxiety disorder from January 8, 2024, resolving reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.
- Denied
The Board denied earlier effective dates for the ratings of generalized anxiety disorder, right shoulder strain with AC joint osteoarthritis and AC joint separation, clavicle and/or scapula impairment, and tinnitus.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, residuals of traumatic brain injury (TBI), and multiple musculoskeletal conditions but denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss.
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