The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment, and the Board finds that he is entitled to TDIU.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's service-connected disabilities (including right knee replacement, left hip replacement, spinal stenosis, degenerative joint disease of the knees and feet) severely limit his ability to perform physical work and moderately limit sedentary work. His exclusive background in cable construction and maintenance of telephone facilities requiring physical work limits his ability to obtain such sedentary employment.
- Claimed conditions
- status post total right knee replacement, history of residuals meniscectomy and traumatic arthritis, degenerative joint disease of the left hip, status post left total hip replacement, spinal stenosis of the lumbar spine, thoracic compression fracture, right lower extremity radiculopathy (claimed as nerve damage to the right leg secondary to right knee), degenerative joint disease of the left knee, residuals fracture second, third, and fourth metatarsals, left foot
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 70%
- Decision date
- January 15, 2010
- Citation
- 1002603
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 1002603.
What this means for you
A grant means the Board agreed the veteran was entitled to the benefit. Decisions like this show the kind of evidence and arguments that tend to succeed for claims like it.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Dismissed
The Veteran's appeals were dismissed due to the death of the appellant. The issues related to service connection for various conditions and disability ratings.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his right and left knee disabilities, as well as his right knee scar. The RO must attempt to obtain all available private treatment records from the Tennessee Orthopedic Clinic.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for degenerative joint disease of the left (non-dominant) shoulder, right knee, and left knee are being remanded due to a failure to issue a Supplemental Statement of the Case (SSOC).,The Veteran's claim for TDIU is also being remanded as it was denied in the most recent rating decision without an SSOC having been issued.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to service-connected disabilities, finding that his combined schedular ratings did not meet the threshold requirement for consideration of TDIU. The case was remanded multiple times and ultimately denied again.
Free starter guide for your own claim
Reading this because you were denied or under-rated? Get the plain-English next steps — your appeal options, the deadline that protects you, and how appeals like yours turn out. One email, no spam.
We will only use this to send the guide. No spam, unsubscribe any time. We never sell your information.
We are not the VA. Veterans’ Rights is an independent resource built for veterans. We are not the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, not part of the government, and not endorsed by any government agency.
This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.