The Veteran's TDIU claim was denied as his service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from securing and following substantially gainful employment.
The deciding factor: The VA medical examiners concluded that the Veteran is not precluded from obtaining and sustaining substantially gainful employment due to his service-connected disabilities, including diabetes, PTSD, peripheral neuropathy, and hearing loss.
- Claimed conditions
- diabetes, PTSD, peripheral neuropathy (right upper extremity), peripheral neuropathy (left upper extremity), type II diabetes mellitus with bilateral cataracts, lumbar spine degenerative disc disease, diabetic neuropathy of the right lower extremity, diabetic neuropathy of the left lower extremity, peripheral neuropathy of the left upper extremity associated with type II diabetes mellitus with bilateral nuclear cataracts, peripheral neuropathy of the right upper extremity associated with type II diabetes mellitus with bilateral nuclear cataracts, erectile dysfunction associated with type II diabetes mellitus with bilateral nuclear cataracts, bilateral hearing loss
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 90%
- Decision date
- January 3, 2019
- Citation
- 19100409
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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder to ensure a proper examination and etiology opinion are provided.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for PTSD, generalized anxiety disorder, and somatic symptom disorder, as well as presumptive service connection for basal cell carcinoma under the PACT Act. Service connection was denied for chronic fatigue syndrome, irritable bowel syndrome, right restless leg syndrome, left restless leg syndrome, an increased rating for psychiatric disorder, bilateral hearing loss, a left forehead surgical scar, and allergic rhinitis.
- Dismissed
The Veteran withdrew the appeals for service connection for bilateral pes planus, obstructive sleep apnea, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for multiple conditions, including bilateral hearing loss and various musculoskeletal issues, as well as an initial rating in excess of 0 percent for rhinitis. However, the Board granted a 70 percent rating for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
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