The Veteran's TDIU claim is being remanded for further development, including scheduling a VA examination to determine if his service-connected disabilities preclude obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment.
The deciding factor: The Board found the Veteran's employability status unclear due to mixed reports of periods of actual employment and unemployment during the appeal period. The case is therefore being remanded for further development, including scheduling a VA examination to determine if his service-connected disabilities preclude obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment.
- Claimed conditions
- L5-S1 degenerative disc disease and spinal stenosis with radiculopathy, right knee condition (degenerative joint disease), left knee condition (degenerative joint disease), fracture, right second toe, limitation of extension, left knee
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- February 3, 2015
- Citation
- 1505063
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 1505063.
What this means for you
A remand is not a loss. The Board sent the case back for more development — often a new exam or missing records — before making a final decision. Many remands later end in a grant, and the decision spells out exactly what the Board wanted to see.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Granted
The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including right shoulder tendonitis, cervical strain, chondromalacia patella right knee, lumbar degenerative disc disease with strain, episodes of locking left knee, left knee degenerative joint disease with patellofemoral pain syndrome and chondromalacia patella status-post surgery, and limitation of extension left knee, have rendered the Veteran unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment since May 15, 2019.
- Granted
The Board granted earlier effective dates for the grants of service connection and ratings for various conditions, including PTSD, based on the Veteran's intent to file a claim submitted in February 2023.
- Denied
The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for left knee osteoarthritis with instability, left knee tendinitis with painful flexion, and limitation of extension, left knee.
- Granted
The veteran was granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to his service-connected disabilities preventing him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.
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