The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not render her unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation prior to May 10, 2001.
The deciding factor: The Veteran demonstrated no impairment of hygiene, speech, orientation, cognition, memory, concentration, thought process, or judgment during the appeal period and was able to work part-time as a waitress and janitor.
- Claimed conditions
- Acquired psychiatric disorder, Headaches, Left foot disorder (status-post bunionectomy with k-wire fixation of the left 1st metatarsal phalangeal joint and arthroplasty of 2nd proximal interphalangeal joint), Right foot disorder (status-post bunionectomy with k-wire fixation of the right 1st metatarsal phalangeal joint and arthroplasty of 2nd proximal interphalangeal joint), Neuritis of toes 1 and 2, Right knee disorder (degenerative arthritis changes in the medial compartments and femorotibial joint), Left knee disorder (degenerative arthritis changes in the medial compartments and femorotibial joint), Right ear drum disorder
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 70%
- Decision date
- December 26, 2018
- Citation
- 18160510
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 18160510.
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.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, finding a causal relationship between the condition and an in-service incident of military sexual trauma (MST).
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for varicose veins in the bilateral lower extremities and dismissed the appeal for an acquired psychiatric disorder due to untimely notice of disagreement. The lumbar spine disability claim was remanded for further development.
- Partly granted
The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and remanded the claims for a right knee condition, left knee condition, and low back condition.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the issue of entitlement to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error.
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.