The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not preclude him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation.
The deciding factor: The Veteran had multiple service-connected conditions, but his overall disability picture did not prevent him from engaging in substantial gainful employment based on the evidence of record at the time of death.
- Claimed conditions
- Chronic Factitious Disorder, Cervical Spine Range of Motion Limitation, Right Upper Extremity Neuropathy, Left Upper Extremity Neuropathy, Right Inguinal Hernia Residuals, Scars of the Right Index Finger and Scalp, Residuals of Skull Fracture, Peptic Ulcer Disease, Missing Replaceable Teeth
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- November 20, 2015
- Citation
- 1549200
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. Search VA.gov for the original decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 1549200.
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: Denied
The Veteran's PTSD symptoms did not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 70 percent.,Service connection was granted for bilateral pes planus on an aggravation of pre-service disability.,Service connection was granted for tinnitus.,Service connection was denied for left ankle, right ankle, and right knee disabilities.,Service connection was denied for left upper extremity and right upper extremity neuropathy.,The Veteran's pancreatitis claim is remanded.,Service connection was denied for left knee disability, left lower extremity neuropathy, and right lower extremity neuropathy.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Board granted a 60 percent disability rating for peptic ulcer disease and a 70 percent initial disability rating for PTSD, effective from April 26, 2019.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for service connection due to new and relevant evidence having been received since a previous denial.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board denied entitlement to an earlier effective date for the award of service connection for diabetes mellitus and hypertension, as well as a compensable disability rating for bilateral hearing loss.
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