The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.
The deciding factor: The Veteran has multiple service-connected conditions, but his combined rating does not meet the schedular requirements for TDIU. His vocational rehabilitation records indicate he was unable to maintain employment due to non-compliance with program requirements and drug use.
- Claimed conditions
- Left knee chondromalacia with mild degenerative joint disease, Right knee patellofemoral syndrome, Lumbosacral spine strain, Left and right foot conditions including pes planus, hammer toes, calluses, and hallux valgus
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 80%
- Decision date
- July 31, 2012
- Citation
- 1226400
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 1226400.
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.
- Granted
The Veteran is granted a TDIU for the period from May 25, 2016 to January 18, 2017 due to his service-connected disabilities.
- Granted
The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation from July 7, 2017, but no earlier, to July 26, 2019, and he was granted basic eligibility for DEA benefits during the same period.
- Partly granted
The Veteran was granted a 70 percent rating for PTSD prior to October 11, 2018, but denied higher ratings for his knee and spine conditions.
- Partly granted
The Board granted a 70 percent evaluation for PTSD, service connection for left and right knee instability and locking, but remanded evaluations for left and right knee patellofemoral syndrome and limitation of flexion as well as the TDIU claim.
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