The Board denied the veteran's claim for an effective date earlier than March 30, 1998 for a grant of total rating based upon individual unemployability (TDIU) due to insufficient evidence showing that his service-connected disabilities prior to March 30, 1998 precluded him from substantially gainful employment.
The deciding factor: The veteran's overall vision impairment was not severe enough to prevent him from engaging in substantial gainful employment prior to March 30, 1998, as evidenced by his ability to read with the assistance of a +4.00 lens and his educational background.
- Claimed conditions
- Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Postoperative Duodenal Ulcer, Residuals of Shell Fragment Wound of Right Forearm, Left Eye Cataract Extraction
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 50%
- Decision date
- August 3, 2001
- Citation
- 0120005
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 0120005.
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 have rendered him unemployable since March 20, 2014, and the Board granted an effective date of that date for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) and eligibility to Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA).
- Partly granted
The Veteran's service-connected PTSD was granted a rating of 100 percent, and service connection for migraines secondary to PTSD was also granted. The other issues were remanded.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD, generalized anxiety disorder, and panic disorder, resolving reasonable doubt in the Veteran's favor.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's appeal for an earlier effective date prior to September 1, 2023, for a 70 percent rating for PTSD.
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