The veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for a TDIU rating as they are rated at less than 60% combined, and there is no evidence that he is unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment due to his service-connected conditions.
The deciding factor: The veteran's combined schedular evaluation of 50 percent does not meet the criteria for a TDIU rating as it is less than 60%. Additionally, the medical evidence does not support the conclusion that he is unable to work due to his service-connected disabilities alone.
- Claimed conditions
- coronary artery disease, osteoarthritis of the right (dominant) olecranon, osteoarthritis of both hands, osteoarthritis of both knees, osteoarthritis of the right foot, osteoarthritis of the cervical spine, osteoarthritis of the lumbar spine, hypertension, loss of motion of the right finger, bilateral hearing loss, scar, palmar aspect of the left thumb, scar, left ring finger, scar, volar aspect left forearm, residuals of skin graft to thumb
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- June 22, 2005
- Citation
- 0516924
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. Search VA.gov for the original decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 0516924.
What this means for you
A final Board denial may be appealed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, generally within 120 days of the Board mailing date. A Supplemental Claim with new and relevant evidence is a separate option. Another Higher-Level Review of the Board decision is not available. Check your own notice: this historical decision does not set your deadline.
What you can do next
Use your own notice and decision stage. A remanded issue is not a final court-appealable denial. VA review guidance and CAVC filing instructions (U.S. federal; reviewed October 7, 2026).
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Whole decision: Dismissed
The Veteran's appeal for service connection of bilateral hearing loss and a ruptured right ear drum was dismissed due to the death of the Veteran.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for his service-connected coronary artery disease, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating based on the severity of his condition.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for hypertension and peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper and lower extremities due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was noted upon entry into active duty service and did not increase in severity during service. Therefore, it denied his claim for service connection.
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