The Veteran's TDIU claim is granted effective September 18, 2023. Effective that date, the Veteran also becomes eligible for DEA benefits and has an effective date of service connection for various conditions.
The deciding factor: The Veteran meets the criteria for a TDIU due to his combined rating of 80 percent from multiple service-connected disabilities rendering him unable to secure or maintain gainful employment.
- Claimed conditions
- left knee surgical scar, coronary artery disease (CAD), right medial knee scar, residuals of cerebrovascular accident (CVA), degenerative arthritis (DJD) of the lumbar spine, left calcaneal fracture with plantar fasciitis, hammertoe deformities of the left second, third, fourth and fifth toes, tongue cancer
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 80%
- Decision date
- March 30, 2026
- Citation
- A26028571
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 A26028571.
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 Veteran's claims for an earlier effective date for service connection and TDIU are remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding the etiology of his coronary artery disease.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for prostate cancer, coronary artery disease (CAD), diabetes mellitus type II (DM II), hypertension, and erectile dysfunction as secondary to service-connected DM II. The Veteran's exposure to Agent Orange during active service is presumed.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's service connection claims for coronary artery disease, atherosclerosis, peripheral vascular disease, varicose veins, and irritable bowel syndrome are remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding secondary service connection.
- Granted
The Veteran's hypertension, left knee scar, and erectile dysfunction have been granted a 10 percent rating each. The effective date for these awards is January 1, 2025. An earlier effective date for special monthly compensation based on loss of use of a creative organ is denied.
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