The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not prevent him from obtaining and following a substantially gainful occupation prior to November 1, 2013.
The deciding factor: The combined rating of the Veteran's service-connected disabilities was 90% prior to November 1, 2013, which is less than the required 70% for TDIU under VA regulations. The Board found that the Veteran could perform sedentary substantially gainful employment.
- Claimed conditions
- coronary artery disease, posttraumatic stress disorder, shell fragment wound of the right lower extremity, shell fragment wound of the left lower extremity, radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve of the right lower extremity, radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve of the left lower extremity, degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, tinnitus, radiculopathy of the femoral nerve of the right lower extremity, sensory loss behind the knee
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 90%
- Decision date
- May 16, 2018
- Citation
- 18102719
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 18102719.
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 an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for his service-connected coronary artery disease, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating based on the severity of his condition.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for hearing loss, tinnitus, and an acquired psychiatric disorder due to incomplete medical records and need for further examination.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus, arthritis, and memory loss. The decision found no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.
- Granted
The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service connected. The issues of foot disability and cardiovascular disorder are remanded for additional development.
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