The Veteran's claims for increased disability ratings for his service-connected right elbow, left wrist and fingers, left knee, right knee, left ankle, right ankle, left elbow, and left index finger disabilities have been dismissed.,The issue of entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities (TDIU) is remanded for further development.
The deciding factor: The Veteran withdrew his claims for increased disability ratings for the aforementioned conditions during the June 2019 Board hearing, and in writing.,Further development is needed as the Veteran's SSA records are missing, which could impact the determination of whether he is unemployable due to service-connected disabilities.
- Claimed conditions
- Migraine Headaches, Polyarthralgia involving the right elbow (right elbow disability), Polyarthralgia involving the left wrist and fingers (left wrist disability), Polyarthralgia involving the left knee (left knee disability), Polyarthralgia involving the right knee (right knee disability), Polyarthralgia involving the left ankle (left ankle disability), Polyarthralgia involving the right ankle (right ankle disability), Tendinitis of the left elbow, Tendinitis of the left index finger limitation of motion
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- November 26, 2019
- Citation
- 19188906
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 1,350 · Granted: 26% (granted or partly granted, in the vetted 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. Look up the original decision on VA.gov (opens in a new tab) using citation 19188906.
What this means for you
A remand is not a loss. The Board sent the case back for more development — often a new exam or missing records — before making a final decision. Many remands later end in a grant, and the decision spells out exactly what the Board wanted to see.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Granted
The Veteran's 50% disability rating for migraine headaches was restored as the evidence did not show actual improvement in his ability to function under ordinary conditions of life and work.
- Granted
The Veteran's migraine headaches are rated at a 50 percent rating, effective December 3, 2021, due to frequent and severe attacks that significantly impact his ability to work.
- Dismissed
The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating of erectile dysfunction was dismissed. A rating of 50 percent, and no higher, for migraines is granted. An initial rating of 30 percent, and no higher, for IBS is granted. Service connection for hypertension is remanded.
- Granted
The Veteran's service-connected PTSD alone is sufficient to grant a TDIU, and his other service-connected disabilities are at least 60% combined. The Veteran also meets the criteria for SMC based on housebound status.
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