The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to obtain and secure substantially gainful employment.
The deciding factor: The objective medical evidence of record failed to establish that the Veteran was precluded from employment due to service-connected disability, as his symptoms did not rise to a level where he could not perform sedentary work.
- Claimed conditions
- residuals of thoracic spine injury with anterior wedging T8-T11, degenerative changes of the cervical spine with possible myelopathy, neuralgia of the right upper extremity, neuralgia of the left upper extremity, pain disorder (formerly claimed as affective depression)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- December 19, 2017
- Citation
- 1758969
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 1758969.
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: Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for back injury and syrinx/hydromyelia, reopened the claims based on new evidence, and denied increased ratings for fibromyalgia, blepharospasm, small fiber neuropathy with autonomic dysfunction, and cervical spondylosis.
- Whole decision: Partly granted
The Board granted separate ratings of 20 percent for neuralgia in the left and right upper extremities but denied higher initial ratings for radiculopathy in both extremities.
- Whole decision: Dismissed
The Board has dismissed the Veteran's claims for service connection for neuralgia of the left upper extremity and bilateral corneal opacities as he failed to identify specific determinations with which he disagreed.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining VA treatment records and providing VCAA notice in conjunction with a TDIU claim.
Free starter guide for your own claim
Reading this because you were denied or under-rated? Get the plain-English next steps — your appeal options, the deadline that protects you, and how appeals like yours turn out. One email, no spam.
We will only use this to send the guide. No spam, unsubscribe any time. We never sell your information.
We are not the VA. Veterans’ Rights is an independent resource built for veterans. We are not the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, not part of the government, and not endorsed by any government agency.
This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.