The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from securing and following some type of substantially gainful employment.
The deciding factor: The Veteran has a combined rating of 80 percent for his service-connected conditions, which is less than the minimum required (60%) to meet the schedular criteria for TDIU. The VA examiners found that none of the disabilities prevented him from securing and following substantially gainful employment.
- Claimed conditions
- Chondral lesion of left knee, Major depressive disorder, Cervical strain, Cellulitis, Left elbow chronic synovitis, Patellofemoral joint syndrome, right knee, Tinnitus, Tinea cruris and onychomycosis, Fracture of left ankle with degenerative joint disease, Right ankle degenerative joint disease, Chondral lesion of left knee (status post arthroscopy, chondroplasty, and microfracture procedure), Fracture of right fifth metacarpal (little finger) with deformity, Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 80%
- Decision date
- February 9, 2012
- Citation
- 1205088
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 1205088.
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 service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are not related to his military service.
- Denied
The Veteran's service-connected major depressive disorder does not render him in need of regular aid and attendance or confined to his home, thus SMC based on housebound status and/or need for regular aid and attendance is denied.
- Denied
The Board denied the veteran's claims for a higher rating for PTSD and dismissed his appeals regarding increased ratings for tinnitus and a right hand disability due to lack of timely filing of Notice of Disagreement.
- Denied
The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including GAD, MDD, bruxism, migraines/headaches, tinnitus, hip pain, iliotibial band syndrome, and leg stress fractures. The evidence does not support current diagnoses of these conditions during the appeal period.
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.