The VA determined that the appellant's service-connected conditions do not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, leading to a denial of his claim for a total rating based on individual unemployability.
The deciding factor: The appellant's service-connected disabilities (onychomycosis and status post gastrectomy with reflux esophagitis) are rated at 50% and 40%, respectively. However, the VA found that these conditions do not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.
- Claimed conditions
- onychomycosis, status post gastrectomy with reflux esophagitis, deviated nasal septum, status post tonsillectomy, status post appendectomy, and scars of the neck and scalp
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- April 8, 2002
- Citation
- 0203181
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 0203181.
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.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for somatic symptom disorder, respiratory disorders (including COPD), nephrolithiasis, deviated nasal septum, and higher initial disability ratings for PTSD with unspecified depressive disorder with anxious distress and GERD, hiatal hernia, reflux esophagitis, Barrett's esophagus.
- Dismissed
The Veteran has withdrawn the appeal for service connection and higher ratings, requesting to submit supplemental claims instead.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for a bilateral foot disability to obtain further development, including adequate VA examinations and opinions.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for pes planus, bilateral degenerative changes of the feet, bilateral hammertoe deformity, bilateral foot ulcers, and onychomycosis as there was no evidence to support an increase in severity during active service.
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