The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment, as his depression is aggravated by non-service connected conditions.
The deciding factor: Non-service connected prostate cancer, heart trouble, and a back disability are the causes of unemployability.
- Claimed conditions
- Depression, Left total knee replacement, Digestive condition, Right hand tendon conditions, Multiple right hand and left knee lacerations and scars
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 90%
- Decision date
- January 7, 2019
- Citation
- 19101465
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.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for multiple myeloma, back disability (secondary to multiple myeloma), and depression, with an effective date of January 26, 2021. The decision also remanded claims related to breast cancer, DEA benefits, and initial ratings.
- Denied
The veteran's bad conduct discharge precludes eligibility for VA benefits, including compensation and healthcare.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include posttraumatic stress disorder, depression, and personality disorder, due to the need for further development of the record.
- Dismissed
The appeal was dismissed due to the death of the Appellant during its pendency.
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