The veteran's multiple disabilities do not meet the criteria for a permanent and total disability rating for pension purposes based on his service-connected conditions, as they are not of sufficient severity to render him permanently unemployable.
The deciding factor: The combined evaluation of the veteran's lifetime disabilities is 60 percent, which does not meet the percentage requirements for a presumption of permanent and total disability.
- Claimed conditions
- Mental health disorders (dysthymia, borderline personality disorder, PTSD, anxiety neurosis), Diabetes mellitus, Genitourinary disorders (residuals of neuroma of the scrotum, status post bilateral orchiopexy, cystoplasty), Hypertension, Hiatal hernia with reflux, Left shoulder disorder (postoperative residuals of a left shoulder rotator cuff tear and surgical repair), Low back disorder (lumbosacral strain with minimal degenerative disc disease at L5-S1), Fibromyalgia syndrome, Sinusitis, Viral hepatitis, Tinea pedis with fungal appearing toenails, Headaches (migraine-like), Atypical chest pain
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 60%
- Decision date
- April 6, 2000
- Citation
- 0009264
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 0009264.
What this means for you
A denial is a starting point, not the end of the road. You can see why this claim fell short — and, if you are still inside the one-year window, the appeal lanes that may remain open to you.
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.
- 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 Veteran's PTSD was granted a maximum disability rating of 100 percent effective December 12, 2022. The ratings for migraines and IBS with GERD were restored from noncompensable to their previous levels.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder to ensure a proper examination and etiology opinion are provided.
We are not the VA. Veterans’ Rights is an independent resource built for veterans. We are not the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, not part of the government, and not endorsed by any government agency.
This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.