The Board denied the Veteran's claim for TDIU as his service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from securing or following all forms of substantially gainful employment.
The deciding factor: The Veteran’s service-connected disabilities, while significant, did not prevent him from engaging in substantial gainful employment.
- Claimed conditions
- COPD, Multiple joint pain (bilateral knees, shoulders, elbows, and hands), Chronic arthralgias, left and right hips, Chronic metatarsalgia and plantar fasciitis, left foot, Chronic metatarsalgia and plantar fasciitis, right foot, Residuals of stress fracture fourth toe, left foot, Cysts, right forearm
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 70%
- Decision date
- March 4, 2019
- Citation
- 19115728
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 19115728.
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 COPD, finding that the evidence does not support a link between the Veteran's respiratory condition and his military service, including exposure to Agent Orange.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for various conditions and a TDIU, as the evidence did not support a finding that any of these disabilities were related to the Veteran's military service.
- Granted
The Veteran's COPD precluded him from obtaining and maintaining substantial gainful employment, warranting a Total Disability Rating Based on Individual Unemployability (TDIU).
- Dismissed
The Board denied the veteran's appeals for service connection due to untimely filings.
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