The Board denied the veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities, finding that his disabilities did not prevent him from obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment.
The deciding factor: The appellant’s service connected disabilities prevented him from engaging in physical labor but not sedentary work. The most probative evidence showed he could perform sedentary work.
- Claimed conditions
- mild lumbar spondylosis, residuals of a fracture of the right os calcis with hallux valgus and arthritis of the distal toes and plantar calcaneal spur, residuals of a fracture of the left os calcis
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 40%
- Decision date
- July 17, 2018
- Citation
- 18118517
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 18118517.
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 Veteran's mild lumbar spondylosis was evaluated at a 40 percent rating, which is the maximum schedular rating available for this condition. The Board denied an increased rating as his symptoms did not meet or approximate the criteria for a higher evaluation.
- Denied
The Board has determined that the severance of service connection for various conditions was proper and denied the appeal.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for mild lumbar spondylosis, finding no evidence of a current disability related to his period of active duty.
- Denied
The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected lumbar myositis, psychoneurosis and conversion hysteria, residuals of shrapnel wounds of the left thigh and pelvis with retained foreign bodies and scars, and residuals of shell fragment wounds of the right thigh and left leg. The veteran was also denied entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.
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.