The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from securing and following substantially gainful employment.
The deciding factor: The Veteran has a combined disability rating of 90%, meeting the schedular threshold for TDIU, but his PTSD is rated as mild and he maintains social connections and engages in hobbies. The Board finds that his service-connected disabilities do not render him unemployable.
- Claimed conditions
- Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Obstructive Sleep Apnea, Degenerative Arthritis and Bursitis of the Left Hip, Degenerative Arthritis with Bursitis and Tendonitis causing limitation of flexion of the left knee, Degenerative Arthritis with Bursitis and Tendonitis causing limitation of flexion of the right knee, Degenerative Arthritis of the Acromioclavicular and Glenohumeral Joints of the Right Shoulder, Degenerative Arthritis of the Lumbar Spine, Tinnitus, Hemorrhoids, Benign Prostate Hypertrophy with Chronic Prostatitis
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 90%
- Decision date
- July 23, 2019
- Citation
- 19156930
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 19156930.
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.
- Granted
The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD is granted as the evidence shows a current diagnosis of PTSD, an in-service stressor, and a medical link between the two.
- Denied
The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 50% since March 23, 2004. The Board found that a higher rating is not warranted prior to February 15, 2005 due to the severity of his symptoms and their impact on his social and occupational functioning.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and any acquired psychiatric disorder, finding that there was no evidence to support a link between his current mental health conditions and his military service.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are not related to his military service.
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