The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not preclude him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation prior to June 6, 2005.
The deciding factor: The Veteran had multiple service-connected conditions that limited his ability to work but he was able to secure employment through vocational rehabilitation and obtained a contractor’s license. He also applied for Social Security disability benefits due to other health issues.
- Claimed conditions
- dementia, diabetes mellitus type 2, right knee degenerative changes status post arthrotomy, erectile dysfunction (secondary to service-connected diabetes), peripheral neuropathy of the right and left upper and lower extremities (secondary to service-connected diabetes)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 60%
- Decision date
- November 7, 2019
- Citation
- 19184612
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 Board granted service connection for diabetes mellitus type 2 and diabetic nephropathy (renal failure) as secondary to the Veteran's now service-connected hypertension and diabetes mellitus type 2, respectively.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for dementia, finding that it was aggravated by the Veteran's service-connected hearing loss disability.
- Dismissed
The appeal for entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) is dismissed as moot due to the Veteran's 100 percent combined rating assigned for his service-connected disabilities.
- Denied
The Board denied the veteran's claims for higher ratings and earlier effective dates, except for an earlier effective date for service connection of lower extremity peripheral neuropathy.
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