The Veteran is granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability and special monthly compensation from May 5, 2019.
The deciding factor: The evidence shows that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, meeting the criteria for TDIU. Additionally, he meets the criteria for SMC under 38 U.S.C. § 1114(s)(1) due to his major depressive disorder and other service-connected conditions rated at least 60 percent disabling.
- Claimed conditions
- Major depressive disorder, Lumbar spine degenerative disc disease, Bilateral hips, Cervical spine degenerative disc disease, Left ankle surgery, Left knee ganglion cyst excision, Obstructive sleep apnea, Hypertension
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 100%
- Decision date
- May 5, 2025
- Citation
- A25040915
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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus type II and hypertension, to include as secondary to left orchiectomy, for further development in accordance with the PACT Act.
- Partly granted
The Board granted readjudication of previously denied claims for service connection for PTSD and COPD, while remanding other issues including entitlement to service connection for an eye disorder, hypertension, tinnitus, a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss, TDIU, and an initial rating for PTSD.
- Granted
The Board granted initial ratings of 40 percent for lumbar spine disorder, 70 percent for major depressive disorder, and 40 percent for left lower extremity radiculopathy. TDIU and SMC based on housebound status were also granted.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for various disabilities and denied higher ratings for several service-connected conditions.
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