The Veteran's combined ratings do not meet the percentage requirements for TDIU, and his service-connected disabilities did not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.
The deciding factor: VA policy requires that all veterans who are unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation by reason of service-connected disabilities be rated totally disabled. However, none of the objective medical evidence supported the Veteran's contentions that his service-connected disabilities prevented him from obtaining or maintaining employment.
- Claimed conditions
- Degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, Degenerative arthritis of the left knee, Degenerative arthritis of the right knee, Right elbow arthritis with painful motion of the forearm, Degenerative arthritis of the right elbow with limitation of flexion, Painful right elbow surgical scar associated with degenerative arthritis of the right elbow with limitation of flexion, Degenerative arthritis of the right elbow with limitation of extension
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 50%
- Decision date
- April 12, 2018
- Citation
- 1822451
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 1822451.
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 Veteran's claim for increased ratings for degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine and lumbar spine was granted with effective dates of May 13, 2019.
- Granted
The Veteran's degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine was diagnosed during service and has continued since then. The Board granted service connection for this condition based on continuity of symptomatology.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to inadequate examinations and the need for a retrospective opinion regarding the severity of his service-connected lumbar spine disability.
- Granted
The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back disability, diagnosed as degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, is related to service and granted service connection for this condition.
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