The Veteran's claim for a total disability evaluation based on individual unemployability (TDIU) was denied as he is not unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation due to service-connected disabilities.
The deciding factor: The Veteran’s combined disability rating of 60% does not meet the schedular criteria for TDIU, and his educational background and vocational history do not support an award of TDIU based on extra-schedular considerations.
- Claimed conditions
- residuals of thoracic spine injury, degenerative changes of cervical spine, neuralgia of right upper extremity, neuralgia of left upper extremity, pain disorder
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- August 20, 2019
- Citation
- 19164691
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 2,170 · Granted: 38% (granted or partly granted, in the indexed 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. Read the original VA decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 19164691.
What this means for you
A final Board denial may be appealed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, generally within 120 days of the Board mailing date. A Supplemental Claim with new and relevant evidence is a separate option. Another Higher-Level Review of the Board decision is not available. Check your own notice: this historical decision does not set your deadline.
What you can do next
Use your own notice and decision stage. A remanded issue is not a final court-appealable denial. VA review guidance and CAVC filing instructions (U.S. federal; reviewed October 7, 2026).
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's mental health disability caused occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas, warranting a 70 percent rating. The disability did not cause total occupational and social impairment.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for service connection for pain disorder and acquired psychiatric disability due to a failure to provide VA examinations.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board vacated its previous decision denying a higher rating for the veteran's pain disorder due to procedural errors. The case was remanded for further review.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have been found to preclude him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation since March 3, 2006. The Board has granted entitlement to TDIU effective that date.
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