The veteran's service-connected disabilities, while significant, do not render him unemployable. His combined disability rating is 60%, and the evidence does not support that his service-connected conditions alone prevent him from obtaining or maintaining employment.
The deciding factor: While the veteran has several service-connected disabilities, including emphysema, shoulder impingement syndromes, and a left wrist condition, the evidence indicates that these conditions do not significantly limit his ability to perform sedentary work. Additionally, there is no clear indication that his unemployability is solely due to his service-connected conditions.
- Claimed conditions
- Emphysema, Left shoulder impingement syndrome, Right shoulder impingement syndrome, Residuals of a left wrist fracture with degenerative changes
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- April 29, 2008
- Citation
- 0814098
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.
- Denied
The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, left knee disability, and right shoulder impingement syndrome due to a lack of evidence showing current disabilities meeting VA criteria.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, ischemic heart disease (IHD), percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) with stent placement as secondary to IHD, hypertensive heart disease, and emphysema. The COPD claim was denied.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for mantle cell lymphoma, emphysema, diabetes mellitus, Type II, bilateral foot neuropathy, and an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and antisocial personality disorder.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for a respiratory disability to include COPD, emphysema, and restrictive lung disease for further development as the RO did not substantially comply with previous Board directives.
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