The Veteran's service-connected disabilities alone do not preclude substantially-gainful employment consistent with his education and occupational experience.
The deciding factor: The combined disability evaluation is 50 percent, which does not meet the criteria for a TDIU based solely on the service-connected disabilities.
- Claimed conditions
- TMJ syndrome, residuals of traumatic arthritis of the left ankle, residuals of traumatic arthritis of the right ankle, loss of teeth (2-4, 14, and 25 through 31)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- February 18, 2015
- Citation
- 1507147
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 1507147.
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.
- Denied
The Veteran's TMJ disability is currently rated at 10 percent, and the Board finds that an increased rating in excess of this level is not warranted based on the evidence of record.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims for GERD, TMJ syndrome, and migraine condition due to new evidence submitted after the May 2024 rating decision. The Veteran's MOS of cannon crewmember exposed him to various toxic exposures in service.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a TDIU due to his service-connected disabilities, as the evidence did not show that these conditions rendered him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's tinnitus was not incurred in service and is denied.,The Veteran does not have a current bilateral hearing loss disability for VA purposes, so the claim is denied.,The Veteran's lung condition, headaches, insomnia, TMJ syndrome, arthritis of the entire skeletal system, and eye condition are remanded for further examination and opinion.,The Veteran's weight loss is remanded for further examination and opinion.,PTSD was not diagnosed in service or currently. The claim for PTSD is remanded.
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.