The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from maintaining substantially gainful employment, despite his reported limitations and current employment.
The deciding factor: The evidence does not show that the Veteran’s service-connected disabilities rise to a severity level as to completely impair his ability to obtain and/or maintain substantial gainful employment.
- Claimed conditions
- degenerative joint disease thoracolumbar spine with fusion T-11 through L-3, tinnitus, gastroesophageal reflux disease and biliary colic, right cubital tunnel syndrome (claimed as tingling in the right arm), left great toe paresthesia, neurological impairment, left lower extremity associated with degenerative joint disease thoracolumbar spine with fusion T-11 through L-3, fracture medial epicondyle with epicondylitis (previously rated as residuals of left elbow fracture), neurological impairment, right lower extremity associated with degenerative joint disease thoracolumbar spine with fusion T-11 through L-3, degenerative joint disease left knee, degenerative joint disease right knee, residuals of left ankle avulsion fracture/sprain, right ear eustachian tube dysfunction
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 70%
- Decision date
- September 16, 2019
- Citation
- 19171613
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 19171613.
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 claims for service connection for hearing loss, tinnitus, and an acquired psychiatric disorder due to incomplete medical records and need for further examination.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus, arthritis, and memory loss. The decision found no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.
- Granted
The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service connected. The issues of foot disability and cardiovascular disorder are remanded for additional development.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that it is at least as likely as not that the Veteran experienced tinnitus during his active duty service.
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