The Veteran's left inguinal hernia repair is rated at 0 percent, and he was granted a TDIU effective October 19, 2018. The Board found that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's combined rating of 70% due to his lumbar spine disability and right L5 root radiculopathy met the schedular requirements for a TDIU, with consideration given to his educational background and employment history.
- Claimed conditions
- Left Inguinal Hernia, Lumbar Spine Disability, Right L5 Root Radiculopathy, Allergic Rhinitis, Bilateral Hearing Loss
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 40%
- Decision date
- January 13, 2026
- Citation
- 26000445
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 26000445.
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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