The veteran's combined service-connected disability rating is 70%, and he has overcome his employment handicap by securing and maintaining a job consistent with his abilities, aptitudes, and interests.
The deciding factor: The veteran has successfully maintained employment as a psychology technician, which aligns with his pattern of abilities, aptitudes, and interests despite experiencing symptoms related to his service-connected disabilities.
- Claimed conditions
- status post lumbar laminectomy with history of lumbar spine arthritis, right shoulder impingement syndrome, status post fracture of the left index finger with deformity, temporomandibular joint dysfunction, arthritis of the ankles and knees, Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- October 26, 2001
- Citation
- 0125326
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. Search VA.gov for the original decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 0125326.
What this means for you
A final Board denial may be appealed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, generally within 120 days of the Board mailing date. A Supplemental Claim with new and relevant evidence is a separate option. Another Higher-Level Review of the Board decision is not available. Check your own notice: this historical decision does not set your deadline.
What you can do next
Use your own notice and decision stage. A remanded issue is not a final court-appealable denial. VA review guidance and CAVC filing instructions (U.S. federal; reviewed October 7, 2026).
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to a duty to assist error. The VA will obtain new opinions from different VA examiners to address whether the Veteran's conditions were incurred or aggravated by his military service, including exposure during combat.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to secure and maintain substantially gainful employment prior to January 31, 2023.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a right shoulder disorder, finding no evidence linking his current condition to military service or any service-connected disability.
- Whole decision: Dismissed
The Board has dismissed all issues of service connection due to the Veteran's withdrawal of his appeal.
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