The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, which include a fracture of the right middle finger resulting in ankylosis of multiple fingers, cervical fusion with degenerative joint disease, scars from facial injuries, osteoarthritis of the lumbar spine, and bilateral hearing loss, do not render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment. His combined disability rating is 60 percent.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's service-connected disabilities are rated at a combined percentage of 60%, which does not meet the criteria for TDIU based on schedular ratings alone.
- Claimed conditions
- unfavorable ankylosis of right long, ring, and little fingers secondary to a fracture of the right middle finger, cervical fusion with degenerative joint disease, scars of the right side of the face, osteoarthritis of the lumbar spine, bilateral hearing loss
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 60%
- Decision date
- June 21, 2010
- Citation
- 1023038
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 1023038.
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.
- Dismissed
The Veteran withdrew the appeals for service connection for bilateral pes planus, obstructive sleep apnea, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for multiple conditions, including bilateral hearing loss and various musculoskeletal issues, as well as an initial rating in excess of 0 percent for rhinitis. However, the Board granted a 70 percent rating for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
- Denied
The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection for a bilateral hearing loss disability, as the evidence did not support higher ratings or service connection.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding it at least as likely as not related to the Veteran's in-service noise exposure.
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