The Board denied an earlier effective date for the award of TDIU, finding that the veteran was not unemployable due to service-connected disabilities prior to October 29, 1996.
The deciding factor: The evidence did not demonstrate that the veteran was unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation due to service-connected disabilities before October 29, 1996.
- Claimed conditions
- major depressive disorder with psychotic features, low back strain, right shoulder tendonitis with adhesive capsulitis, residuals of right ring finger fracture
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- April 1, 2003
- Citation
- 0306203
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 0306203.
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.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for a psychiatric disability, diagnosed as other specified trauma and stressor related disorder and major depressive disorder with psychotic features.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for major depressive disorder with psychotic features and alcohol use disorder, finding that both conditions were related to the Veteran's military service.
- 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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