The veteran's service-connected disabilities, including a skull defect and facial scars, do not prevent him from securing and following substantially gainful employment.
The deciding factor: The veteran's combined disability rating is 80%, which does not meet the requirement for TDIU based on schedular ratings alone. The VA determined that his service-connected conditions do not preclude him from engaging in substantial gainful employment.
- Claimed conditions
- Anosmia (loss of sense of smell), Brain disorder associated with trauma, Deviated septum, Facial scars, Residuals of fracture of the second cervical vertebra, Residuals of fracture to left distal tibia and fibula, Residuals of fracture to right distal fifth metacarpal, Skull defect
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 80%
- Decision date
- June 16, 2003
- Citation
- 0312912
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 0312912.
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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for service connection of facial scars to obtain an addendum opinion addressing the etiology of the Veteran's skin disorder, including considering his in-service skin complaints and treatment.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for service connection for various conditions due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error in that the AOJ failed to obtain service treatment records.
- Partly granted
The Veteran's effective date for service connection of PTSD is granted as May 29, 2006, but no earlier. The claims for service connection for digestive disorder, eating disorder, acne, facial scars, and depression are remanded.
- Dismissed
The Board dismissed the issues of entitlement to service connection for sinus infections and an increased disability rating for tension headaches with migraines due to improper concurrent election, while remanding the issue of entitlement to service connection for a deviated septum.
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