The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to engage and retain substantially gainful employment, thus meeting the criteria for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).
The deciding factor: The VA examiners found that the Veteran's right thumb and fingers pain, limitation of motion, swelling, fatigue, weakness, and incoordination prevented him from obtaining or maintaining gainful employment. The bilateral pes planus and plantar fasciitis, left knee strain, and right knee strain with patellar tendonitis also impacted his ability to perform any type of occupational task.
- Claimed conditions
- obstructive sleep apnea with recurrent upper respiratory infections, bilateral pes planus and plantar fasciitis with arthritis, status-post fracture of the right thumb with residual degenerative joint disease, left knee strain, right knee strain with patellar tendonitis
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 80%
- Decision date
- March 17, 2017
- Citation
- 1708250
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 1708250.
What this means for you
A grant means the Board agreed the veteran was entitled to the benefit. Decisions like this show the kind of evidence and arguments that tend to succeed for claims like it.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Dismissed
The Board dismissed the appeals for service connection of various conditions due to untimely filing of the appeal.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claims for service connection for left knee strain, right knee strain, shin splints of the right leg, and shin splints of the left leg are being remanded due to a failure to obtain VA examinations and medical nexus opinions.
- Denied
The Veteran's initial evaluations for left knee strain, limitation of extension and flexion were both denied as the evidence did not show that his symptoms warranted a rating higher than 10 percent.
- Dismissed
The Veteran's appeal was dismissed due to their death during the pendency of the appeal. The Board cannot issue a decision on the merits as they have no jurisdiction.
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