The Board found that the veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from obtaining or retaining substantially gainful employment.
The deciding factor: The veteran's physical limitations and past employment history did not meet the criteria for a total rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.
- Claimed conditions
- fracture of the distal third of the right tibia with segmental fracture of the right fibula, right tibial nerve injury, hammertoes, scar, adjustment disorder with depressed mood, arthritis of the left hip, arthritis of the right hip, low back strain
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- December 22, 2000
- Citation
- 0033458
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 0033458.
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.
- Granted
The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to follow and secure substantially gainful employment, thus a total disability rating for individual unemployability is granted.
- Denied
The Board denied an initial rating in excess of 30 percent for the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating.
- Denied
The Board denied a rating in excess of 50 percent prior to October 16, 2023, and 70 percent thereafter for adjustment disorder with depressed mood. The claim for a compensable rating for hypothyroidism was remanded.
- Dismissed
The veteran withdrew the appeal for service connection for left knee patellar femoral syndrome, right knee patellar femoral syndrome, low back strain, and right hip bursitis.
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