The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his knee replacements and diabetes, do not render him unable to secure or follow any form of substantially gainful employment.
The deciding factor: VA examinations found that the Veteran's service-connected conditions did not prevent him from working due to their severity alone.
- Claimed conditions
- Right Knee Replacement, Left Knee Replacement, Type II Diabetes Mellitus with Early Diabetic Nephropathy, Left Little Finger Amputation
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 70%
- Decision date
- October 23, 2014
- Citation
- 1446957
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 1446957.
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's left knee disability is rated at 30 percent for the total knee replacement and a 10 percent rating for the scar. The appeal was granted on both issues.
- Denied
The Veteran's preexisting right knee disability was not worsened beyond natural progression during service, and the Board denied his claim for service connection.
- Denied
The Veteran's appeal for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities is dismissed. The Veteran's right knee replacement disability and lower extremity peripheral nerve disabilities are granted with increased ratings, but the Veteran does not meet criteria for special monthly compensation based on need for regular aid and attendance.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for a psychiatric disorder due to military sexual trauma (MST) and remanded the claims for HIV-related illness, hypertension, left knee replacement, and sleep apnea.
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.