The Veteran's service-connected disabilities alone have not rendered him unable to obtain and maintain substantially gainful employment.
The deciding factor: The combined rating of his service-connected disabilities is at least 70 percent, but the evidence does not show that they render him unemployable due to their severity.
- Claimed conditions
- Unspecified trauma related disorder, Degenerative arthritis with spondylosis, thoracolumbar spine, Left hip osteoarthrosis, Patellofemoral pain syndrome, bilateral (right and left), Status post avulsion fracture of metacarpophalangeal joint, left thumb (dominant), Gamekeeper’s thumb, right hand, Patellofemoral pain syndrome, right knee, Patellofemoral pain syndrome, left knee, Radiculopathy, left lower extremity associated with degenerative arthritis with spondylosis, thoracolumbar spine, Plantar fasciitis, bilateral feet
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 80%
- Decision date
- June 18, 2019
- Citation
- 19147662
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 an initial rating greater than 30 percent for plantar fasciitis as the evidence did not support a higher rating.
- Dismissed
The appeal was denied due to the untimely filing of the Board Appeal request.
- Dismissed
The appeal was dismissed due to untimely filing of the Notice of Disagreement (NOD) for claims related to an increased rating and service connection, as well as lack of jurisdiction over a previously granted claim for sinusitis.
- Granted
The Veteran's service-connected left knee and right shoulder disabilities, along with compensation benefits awarded under 38 USC § 1151 for a right bicep detachment during shoulder surgery, prevented him from securing or following substantially gainful employment from December 22, 2011 to December 11, 2016.
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