The Veteran's service-connected disabilities (healed right occipital scar, rated 0 percent, right inguinal herniorrhaphy, rated 0 percent, headaches, rated 30 percent, and generalized anxiety disorder, rated 50 percent) are not shown to be of such nature and severity as to preclude him from obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment.
The deciding factor: The May 2004, November 2008 and December 2008 VA examiners all concluded that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not prevent him from employment. There is no medical opinion to the contrary.
- Claimed conditions
- healed right occipital scar, right inguinal herniorrhaphy, headaches, generalized anxiety disorder
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- March 26, 2009
- Citation
- 0911362
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 headaches and increased ratings for left shoulder rotator cuff tear, right shoulder rotator cuff tear, hypertension, and left and right leg restless leg syndrome. The Board denied a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss and an initial rating in excess of 70 percent for posttraumatic stress disorder.
- Remanded (sent back)
The appeal is remanded to correct pre-decisional duty to assist errors, including the failure to obtain relevant treatment records and provide adequate VA examinations.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for an increased initial disability evaluation of headaches due to an inadequate VA examination.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for multiple disabilities, including cervical spine and thoracolumbar spine disabilities, radiculopathies, a bladder disability, headaches, a left knee disability, an acquired psychiatric disorder, and bilateral conjunctivitis. The Board also granted entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disability.
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