The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for his service-connected left and right knee disabilities have been dismissed as he withdrew them prior to the decision. The Board also granted entitlement to individual unemployability (TDIU) due to multiple service-connected conditions preventing him from securing and following substantially gainful employment.
The deciding factor: The Veteran withdrew his appeals, and the Board found that the evidence demonstrated that his service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation.
- Claimed conditions
- left knee middle compartment osteoarthritis, right knee middle compartment osteoarthritis, sleep apnea, thoracolumbar spine with degenerative disc disease and degenerative joint disease, cervical spine degenerative arthritis, left sciatic radiculopathy, tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, hemorrhoids, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), status post hydrocelectory residual scar, scar, right knee status post uni-compartmental joint replacement, scar, left knee status post uni-compartmental joint replacement, psoriasis in remission
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- May 30, 2018
- Citation
- 18106142
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 18106142.
What this means for you
A dismissal means the Board did not decide the issue on its merits — usually because it was withdrawn or had become moot. It says more about procedure than about whether a claim like this can win.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Dismissed
The Veteran's appeal for service connection of bilateral hearing loss and a ruptured right ear drum was dismissed due to the death of the Veteran.
- Denied
The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was noted upon entry into active duty service and did not increase in severity during service. Therefore, it denied his claim for service connection.
- 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.
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