The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including a back disability, right shoulder disability, bilateral epididymal cysts, left shoulder impingement syndrome, and chronic maxillary sinusitis/rhinitis, did not render him unemployable during the period from July 2, 2010 to February 27, 2014. The Board found that his education, past work experience, and functional impairment caused by these disabilities were not sufficient to prevent him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not meet the threshold percentage requirements for a TDIU under 38 C.F.R. § 4.16(a) due to their combined rating of 60 percent, which is below the required 70 percent or higher for two or more service-connected disabilities rated at 40 percent or higher.
- Claimed conditions
- back disability, right shoulder disability, bilateral epididymal cysts, left shoulder impingement syndrome, chronic maxillary sinusitis/rhinitis
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 60%
- Decision date
- June 18, 2019
- Citation
- 19147121
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 2,200 · Granted: 43% (granted or partly granted, in the vetted decisions on this site)
Judge attribution: 2025 complete; earlier years partial.
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 19147121.
What this means for you
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What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's right shoulder disability and migraines/chronic headaches are remanded for additional development due to insufficient opinions on the etiology of her conditions.
- Granted
The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims of service connection for a back disability, endometriosis, thyroid condition, and chronic fatigue syndrome due to new evidence submitted since the last final denial. The claims are now considered on their merits.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the case due to incomplete service treatment records and a need for additional VA examination. The Veteran's back disability is being reviewed again with new evidence.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including right shoulder disability, abdominal hernia, GERD, bilateral ankle disabilities, and bilateral foot disabilities. The evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were incurred or aggravated during the appellant's period of active duty.
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