The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment, and therefore he is not entitled to a TDIU.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's service-connected disabilities meet the schedular criteria for disability percentages for a TDIU under the provisions of 38 C.F.R. § 4.16(a), but do not render him unemployable, as they are not so severe as to solely preclude his participation in all forms of substantially gainful employment.
- Claimed conditions
- residuals of an explosion injury to Muscle Group XIV, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, scars relating to the Muscle Group XIV explosion injury residuals, left ankle degenerative arthritis
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- July 11, 2012
- Citation
- 1223979
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 1223979.
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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