The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including post-traumatic headaches and knee conditions, do not solely preclude him from maintaining substantially gainful employment consistent with his education and occupational experience.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's service-connected disabilities are rated at a combined 30 percent, which does not meet the schedular criteria for TDIU based on unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.
- Claimed conditions
- Post-traumatic Headaches, Chondromalacia of the Right Knee with Degenerative Joint Disease, Chondromalacia of the Left Knee with Degenerative Joint Disease, Left Epididymitis
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 30%
- Decision date
- May 31, 2012
- Citation
- 1219215
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 1219215.
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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for erectile dysfunction and SMC based on loss of use due to PTSD. The claims are being remanded because there is insufficient medical evidence addressing whether the Veteran's ED is caused by his PTSD medications or left epididymitis, and a new opinion is needed.
- Granted
The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability is rated at 20 percent effective May 14, 2013. The neck disc problem (degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine) is rated at 20 percent. Post-traumatic headaches are rated at noncompensable. TBI is rated at noncompensable. Service connection for left knee disorder and left elbow disorder is denied.
- Granted
The Veteran's post-traumatic headaches are granted a 30 percent disability rating, effective November 27, 2008. The claim for an increased rating higher than 30 percent for the tremor of the bilateral hand is denied. A total rating for compensation purposes based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities (TDIU) is granted beginning January 01, 2010.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to new evidence and inconsistencies in previous decisions. The Veteran is required to provide authorization for VA to obtain his Social Security Administration records, as well as undergo examinations to determine the nature and etiology of various disabilities.
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