The Veteran's combined disability rating is 70 percent, which meets the criteria for TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities. However, the evidence does not support a finding that he is unemployable due to these conditions.
The deciding factor: The Veteran can perform sedentary work and has worked in such roles previously. His back disability is not related to his knee or hand conditions, which are the primary issues affecting employment.
- Claimed conditions
- type II diabetes mellitus, diabetic neuropathy associated with type II DM, left knee meniscectomy with traumatic arthritis, status post arthroplasty, status post right total knee arthroplasty, right hand carpal tunnel release (dominant hand), psoriasis, diabetic peripheral neuropathy with sciatic and femoral nerve involvement of the right lower extremity, associated with type II DM, diabetic peripheral neuropathy with sciatic and femoral nerve involvement of the left lower extremity, associated with type II DM, erectile dysfunction associated with type II DM
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 70%
- Decision date
- February 17, 2016
- Citation
- 1605872
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 1605872.
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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for a back disorder, high blood pressure, and type II diabetes mellitus due to errors in development of the claim.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's appeal for service connection for heart attack, kidney stones, polycythemia vera, diabetes mellitus type 2, and psoriasis is remanded due to inadequate VA opinions regarding the etiology of these conditions.
- Granted
The Veteran's service-connected PTSD prevented him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation.,Given the grant of TDIU based on his service-connected PTSD, the Veteran has a single service-connected disability rated as total (PTSD) and additional service-connected disabilities independently ratable at 60 percent or more.
- Dismissed
The Veteran withdrew all appeals regarding his service-connected conditions and related disability ratings, effective as of March 16, 2026.
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