The Veteran's combined rating for his service-connected disabilities is 80%, which meets the percentage requirements for schedular TDIU. However, the evidence does not support a finding that he is individually unemployable due to these conditions alone.
The deciding factor: The VA examiner found no effects on the Veteran's employability from his service-connected skin cancer, scars, right hand arthritis, hearing loss, and tinnitus, considering his vocational background as an electrician. The Veteran also occasionally donates his time for church repairs, indicating he retains some capacity to work.
- Claimed conditions
- skin cancer, painful scars associated with skin cancer, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, right (minor) hand arthritis to include all four fingers, healed scar of the right ring finger
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 80%
- Decision date
- March 20, 2012
- Citation
- 1210346
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 1210346.
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's appeal for service connection of bilateral hearing loss and a ruptured right ear drum was dismissed due to the death of the Veteran.
- Denied
The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was noted upon entry into active duty service and did not increase in severity during service. Therefore, it denied his claim for service connection.
- 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.
- 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.
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