The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities because there was not sufficient evidence showing that his service-connected conditions prevented him from securing and following substantially gainful employment.
The deciding factor: The Veteran failed to provide good cause for failing to participate in a VA examination, which is required for TDIU claims. The medical evidence did not support the claim of unemployability due to service-connected disabilities alone.
- Claimed conditions
- cold injury residuals in the left lower extremity, cold injury residuals in the right lower extremity, cold injuries to the left upper extremity, cold injuries to the right upper extremity
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- August 3, 2018
- Citation
- 18123702
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 18123702.
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: Denied
The Board found that there is no current evidence of a sleep disorder or neck disorder. The Veteran's cold injury residuals have been rated at 10 percent prior to November 21, 2012 and at 20 percent thereafter. A compensable disability rating for forehead disfigurement by scars was not warranted, and the Veteran did not meet criteria for a disability rating in excess of 10 percent for a painful scar.
- Whole decision: 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.
- Whole decision: 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.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Veteran's service-connected musculoligamentous strain, right knee, is currently rated at 10 percent and the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted.
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