The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not render him unemployable prior to September 8, 2011. The Board finds that the evidence does not show he was incapable of securing and following a substantially gainful occupation due to his service-connected conditions.
The deciding factor: Medical opinions from VA examinations conducted before September 8, 2011 did not find the Veteran unemployable or close to that state, even considering the nature and extent of his service-connected disabilities. The evidence does not establish incapacity for gainful employment prior to September 8, 2011.
- Claimed conditions
- mood disorder, mixed depression and anxiety, obstructive sleep apnea, carpal tunnel syndrome, right wrist and limb girdle muscular dystrophy with right shoulder weakness, carpal tunnel syndrome, left wrist and limb girdle muscular dystrophy with left shoulder weakness, lumbosacral strain, bilateral pes planus, limb girdle muscular dystrophy with right hip weakness, limb girdle muscular dystrophy with left hip weakness, deviated nasal septum, status post rhinoplasty, essential hypertension, anal fissure, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), scar, left thigh, status post muscle biopsy
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- August 17, 2017
- Citation
- 1733782
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 1733782.
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 Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, finding that there is no competent evidence to support a finding that his current condition began in or as a result of service.
- Denied
The Board of Veterans' Appeals (BVA) has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea as there is no current diagnosis of this condition during the appeal period.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper extremities, and peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities, finding that there was no evidence linking these conditions to his active service or any related exposure.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the claims on appeal, including obtaining any outstanding treatment records and scheduling VA examinations to assess the current severity of service-connected disabilities. The Veteran's representative also requested reevaluation of his service-connected disabilities.
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