The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation prior to January 2, 2008.
The deciding factor: Medical evidence does not show that the Veteran was unemployable due to his service-connected residuals of head injury with post-traumatic headaches prior to January 2, 2008.
- Claimed conditions
- residuals of head injury with post-traumatic headaches, residuals of ganglionectomy of the right wrist, residuals of left thumb fracture
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- September 19, 2017
- Citation
- 1740702
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. Read the original VA decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 1740702.
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: Granted
The Board granted an effective date of June 2, 2021 for a 50 percent evaluation for persistent depressive disorder and a total disability rating based on individual unemployability from the same date.
- Whole decision: Partly granted
The Board denied earlier effective dates for service connection and increased ratings, granted an effective date of December 29, 2017, for TDIU and DEA benefits, and remanded the issue of a compensable evaluation for scar, post lumbar laminectomy.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claim for TDIU prior to May 5, 2022, is remanded. The Board needs more information to decide the claim fairly.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran is granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) for the entire period of appeal, beginning January 15, 2002. Additionally, SMC at the housebound rate was granted from June 23, 2015 through June 18, 2017.
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