The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to service-connected disabilities, finding that his combined disability ratings did not meet the schedular criteria for TDIU and that he was unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment in light of his education and occupational experience.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's combined disability ratings were insufficient to meet the schedular criteria for a TDIU, and there is no evidence demonstrating that his service-connected disabilities precluded him from securing or following substantially gainful employment based on his education and occupational experience.
- Claimed conditions
- degenerative arthritis of the spine with intervertebral disc syndrome (IVDS), bilateral pes planus, left knee strain, radiculopathy of the left sciatic nerve associated with degenerative arthritis of the spine with IVDS, lumbar strain associated with left knee strain, seborrheic dermatitis, radiculopathy of the right sciatic nerve associated with degenerative arthritis of the spine with IVDS, limitation of flexion, left knee strain
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- December 17, 2019
- Citation
- 19194678
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 2,604 · Granted: 65% (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 19194678.
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: Denied
The Board denied the Appellant's requests for earlier effective dates for his service connection for bilateral pes planus and gynecomastia scar residuals, finding that the earliest possible effective dates are the dates of receipt of the claims.
- Whole decision: Dismissed
The Board dismissed the appeals for service connection of various conditions due to untimely filing of the appeal.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claims for service connection for left knee strain, right knee strain, shin splints of the right leg, and shin splints of the left leg are being remanded due to a failure to obtain VA examinations and medical nexus opinions.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Veteran's hypertension, bilateral pes planus, PTSD, and anxiety were all denied as service connection was not established based on the evidence of record.,Bilateral pes planus was denied due to lack of current diagnosis.
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