The Veteran's service-connected back disability and associated radiculopathy of the lower extremities render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful employment.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's education, previous occupational experience in unskilled labor, and current physical limitations prevent him from securing and following any form of gainful employment consistent with his educational background and prior work history.
- Claimed conditions
- Alternating exotropia, Strabismic amblyopia, Cataracts, Dry eye syndrome, Bilateral Shoulder Strain, Chronic Lymphedema (affecting the bilateral ankles), Degenerative Joint Disease of Bilateral Elbows, Degenerative Joint Disease of Bilateral Hands, Degenerative Joint Disease of Bilateral Knees, Degenerative Joint Disease of Bilateral Shoulders
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- September 28, 2016
- Citation
- 1638415
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 1638415.
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 determined that additional medical opinions are needed to address the nature and etiology of the Veteran's primary open angle glaucoma with cataracts, as well as a determination of whether he has a current diagnosis of bilateral hearing loss for VA compensation purposes. The case is being remanded to allow for these determinations.
- Granted
An effective date of July 1, 2020 is granted for Total Disability Rating based on Individual Unemployability (TDIU).,An effective date of July 1, 2020 is also granted for basic eligibility for Chapter 35 Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) due to permanent and total service-connected disabilities.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for right and left shoulder disorders due to in-service participation on a boxing team. The VA will need to obtain additional medical records, including private physical therapy records, and schedule an examination to determine if these conditions are related to service.
- Dismissed
The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection of low back and right knee disabilities due to improper filing deadlines.
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