The VA denied the veteran's claim for a total rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disability (TDIU) as his only service-connected condition, cervical degenerative joint disease rated at 40 percent disabling, does not alone render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.
The deciding factor: The VA found that the veteran's service-connected cervical spine degenerative joint disease did not alone preclude him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation considering his educational background and occupational history.
- Claimed conditions
- degenerative joint disease of the cervical spine
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 40%
- Decision date
- December 11, 2003
- Citation
- 0334763
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 0334763.
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.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for degenerative joint disease of the cervical spine and radiculopathy affecting both upper and lower extremities, while dismissing the claim for cervicogenic headaches.
- Granted
The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including degenerative joint disease of the cervical spine, right upper extremity radiculopathy, degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine, and right lower extremity radiculopathy, have resulted in a combined rating of 60 percent as of March 15, 2019. The Board has granted an earlier effective date for TDIU to this point.
- Granted
The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have prevented him from securing and maintaining substantially gainful employment, leading to a TDIU grant.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remanded the claims for readjudication and further development, as new and relevant evidence had been submitted since the prior denials.
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