The VA has determined that the veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for a total rating based on individual unemployability due to their combined effect.
The deciding factor: The VA found that while the veteran's service-connected conditions are disabling, they do not prevent him from securing or maintaining substantially gainful employment.
- Claimed conditions
- healed scar, right chest, residual of thoracotomy with injury to muscle group II, pleurisy
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 80%
- Decision date
- June 28, 2004
- Citation
- 0417210
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 0417210.
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.
- Dismissed
The veteran withdrew all claims on appeal, and the Board dismissed the appeal.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for service connection for 12 respiratory conditions due to a need for additional medical evidence and examinations.
- Dismissed
The appeal for service connection for hypertension, pleurisy, bilateral elbows, sinusitis, and rhinitis was dismissed due to the untimely filing of the Board Appeal request.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for service connection for chronic bronchitis and pleurisy to correct a pre-decisional duty to assist error related to the Veteran's potential exposure to burn pits during his service in Somalia.
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