The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) as his service-connected disabilities did not meet the schedular criteria and he was still capable of performing light physical and sedentary work.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's service-connected disabilities were rated at 40% combined, which is less than the minimum percentage required for a TDIU. The VA examiners' opinions supported that the Veteran could perform light physical and sedentary tasks despite his knee and hypertension conditions.
- Claimed conditions
- left knee degenerative joint disease (DJD), right knee DJD and chondromalacia, left knee recurrent subluxation, right knee recurrent subluxation, essential hypertension, left little finger distal joint fracture residuals
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 40%
- Decision date
- October 15, 2018
- Citation
- 18142208
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 18142208.
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 service connection for multiple conditions, including left knee degenerative joint disease, right knee DJD, degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, psoriasis, acquired psychiatric disorder, hypertension, and various other injuries and conditions claimed by the Veteran.
- Remanded (sent back)
The case is remanded for further evidentiary development, including the scheduling of an in-person examination or a retrospective estimate from an examiner based on a review of the records.
- Denied
The Board denied a compensable rating for essential hypertension as the Veteran's blood pressure did not meet the criteria for a 10 percent rating, and remanded the issue of entitlement to a total disability rating due to individual unemployability.
- Dismissed
The Veteran withdrew all issues on appeal, including entitlement to ratings in excess of 10 percent disabling for service-connected left knee strain and left knee recurrent subluxation and entitlement to service connection for migraine headaches.
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