Denied
The Board denied TDIU and DEA prior to June 26, 2022 but granted SMC effective April 21, 2023.
The deciding factor: The evidence did not show that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation prior to June 26, 2022, and he did not meet the criteria for DEA benefits. However, from April 21, 2023, his combined rating met the requirements for SMC.
- Claimed conditions
- migraine headaches, limitation of extension for each knee, removal of cartilage of each knee, tinnitus, residuals of left 5th metacarpal fracture, hearing loss, urticaria, scars on left knee and right knee
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- November 4, 2025
- Citation
- A25095595
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