The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from obtaining and retaining employment consistent with his abilities, aptitudes, and interests; he does not have an employment handicap.
The deciding factor: The Veteran has a combined disability evaluation of 60 percent but lacks a vocational impairment that contributes substantially to the overall vocational impairment due to his service-connected disabilities.
- Claimed conditions
- polyarticular tophaceous gout, post-operative residuals of the right wrist, post-operative residuals of the right ankle, residuals of mid-back strain, tinnitus, lysis of intestinal adhesions and appendectomy status post perforated bowel, abdominal scar, fracture of the left forearm, fracture of the fifth metacarpal of the right hand, interphalangeal joint arthropathy of the right hand, left hand first metacarpophalangeal joint and distal interphalangeal joints arthropathy, status post detached flexor of the ring finger of the left hand, residuals of a right ankle sprain, low back strain, eczema, onychomycosis
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- August 20, 2009
- Citation
- 0931206
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 0931206.
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: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for hearing loss, tinnitus, and an acquired psychiatric disorder due to incomplete medical records and need for further examination.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus, arthritis, and memory loss. The decision found no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service connected. The issues of foot disability and cardiovascular disorder are remanded for additional development.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that it is at least as likely as not that the Veteran experienced tinnitus during his active duty service.
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