The Veteran is rendered unable to obtain or maintain substantially gainful employment as a result of service-connected disabilities from April 12, 2010 to January 15, 2019. However, for the period prior to April 12, 2010, the Veteran does not meet the combined disability rating percentage criteria for a TDIU under 38 C.F.R. § 4.16(a). The case is remanded for referral to VA’s Director of Compensation for consideration under 38 C.F.R. § 4.16(b).
The deciding factor: The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including CAD, DM, and bilateral knee conditions, rendered him unable to maintain substantially gainful employment prior to April 12, 2010.
- Claimed conditions
- Coronary artery disease (CAD), Diabetes mellitus (DM), type II, Right knee degenerative joint disease, Left knee degenerative joint disease, Left hip degenerative joint disease, Lumbar spine disability, Right hip degenerative joint disease
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- November 10, 2020
- Citation
- A20016764
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 A20016764.
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.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for SMC based on aid and attendance from June 1, 2011, to May 24, 2017, finding that his need for regular aid and attendance was not established during this period.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's current coronary artery disease with acute, subacute, or old myocardial infarction with coronary stent is being remanded for further evaluation due to the lack of a medical nexus between his service-connected hypertension and his heart condition.
- Denied
The Veteran's claims for service connection for headaches and lumbar spine disability, as well as left and right lower extremity radiculopathy, were denied. The effective dates for these conditions are also denied.
- Denied
The Veteran's service connection claims for coronary artery disease and obstructive sleep apnea have been denied as there is no evidence of a nexus between the conditions and his military service.
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