The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to obtain and maintain substantially gainful employment, thus the TDIU claim is denied.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's service-connected disabilities are rated as 50%, which does not meet the schedular criteria for a TDIU. The Board found that his current employment demonstrates he can secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation despite his disabilities.
- Claimed conditions
- pleural plaques, hepatitis B, mild degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, residuals of a left ankle sprain
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- September 6, 2019
- Citation
- 19169491
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 19169491.
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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for asbestosis with pleural plaques and vascular dementia as secondary to asbestosis with pleural plaques due to a lack of an adequate medical opinion regarding the relationship between the Veteran's conditions and his military service.
- Dismissed
The Veteran withdrew his appeal for increased ratings for hepatitis B and C with chronic fatigue, migraines, cervical strain with degenerative arthritis, and chronic cartilage fracture at junction of 10th and 11th right rib complex.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea is being remanded due to the submission of new and relevant evidence. The claim for a higher initial rating for hepatitis B remains denied.
- Partly granted
The Veteran's claim for service connection for irritable bowel syndrome has been granted.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for mild degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine (claimed as chronic back pain) is being remanded to determine if her MOS as an Ammunition Specialist caused her current condition.
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