The veteran's nonservice-connected disabilities, including hypertension, mild pulmonary obstruction, and bilateral pes planus, do not meet the criteria for a permanent and total disability rating for pension purposes as his combined disability evaluation is only 30 percent.
The deciding factor: The veteran's nonservice-connected disabilities are evaluated at noncompensable levels or below, resulting in a combined disability evaluation of 30 percent which does not meet the requirement of being at least 60 percent disabling for one condition or 40 percent disabling for two conditions to warrant a permanent and total disability rating.
- Claimed conditions
- Hepatitis C antibody, History of pneumonia, Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, Decreased sensation of the left calf, Intermittent right wrist and elbow impairment, Hypertension, Mild pulmonary obstruction, Bilateral pes planus
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 30%
- Decision date
- April 11, 2000
- Citation
- 0009685
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 0009685.
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.
- Remanded (sent back)
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- Partly granted
The Board denied a rating in excess of 50 percent for bilateral pes planus and remanded the claims for service connection for tingling and numbness in the bilateral lower extremities and entitlement to TDIU.
- Granted
The Board granted earlier effective dates of November 5, 2021, for the grants of service connection and eligibility for DEA benefits.
- 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.
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