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
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- 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. Read the original VA decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 1446957.
What this means for you
A final Board denial may be appealed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, generally within 120 days of the Board mailing date. A Supplemental Claim with new and relevant evidence is a separate option. Another Higher-Level Review of the Board decision is not available. Check your own notice: this historical decision does not set your deadline.
What you can do next
Use your own notice and decision stage. A remanded issue is not a final court-appealable denial. VA review guidance and CAVC filing instructions (U.S. federal; reviewed October 7, 2026).
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Whole decision: 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.
- Whole decision: 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.
- Whole decision: 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.
- Whole decision: 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.
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