The veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unemployable, as he is primarily unable to work due to a low back disability from an intercurrent injury and severe heart disease.
The deciding factor: The veteran has multiple service-connected disabilities but his unemployability is attributed to non-service connected conditions such as severe degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine and severe heart disease.
- Claimed conditions
- chronic skin disability (frostbitten feet), post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), residuals of frostbite of the right foot, residuals of frostbite of the left foot, residual scar due to a gunshot wound to the left thigh, hemorrhoids, residuals of a fracture of the right thumb
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 70%
- Decision date
- July 10, 2006
- Citation
- 0620052
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 0620052.
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 for hemorrhoids due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error, requiring an additional direct medical opinion.
- Granted
The Board granted a 10 percent rating for hemorrhoids, which fully satisfies the Veteran's appeal.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for service connection for PTSD to be readjudicated on the merits due to new and relevant evidence.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for vertigo, incontinence, and GERD due to the lack of evidence supporting current diagnoses. The claims for hematuria and hemorrhoids were remanded for further development.
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