The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based upon individual unemployability (TDIU) due to service-connected disabilities, finding that his service-connected disabilities did not render him unable to secure and maintain substantially gainful employment.
The deciding factor: The evidence did not show that the Veteran’s service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.
- Claimed conditions
- residuals of a back injury with degenerative disc disease, right lower extremity radiculopathy associated with residuals of back injury, cervical spine degenerative disc disease associated with residuals of back injury, right thumb fracture
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- August 12, 2020
- Citation
- 20053579
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 20053579.
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.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for TDIU and DEA, finding that he did not meet the schedular criteria for a total disability rating based upon individual unemployability prior to June 21, 2011. The case was remanded for extraschedular consideration of TDIU from November 17, 2010 to June 21, 2011.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for TDIU and DEA was denied. The Board found that the Veteran did not meet the schedular requirements for TDIU prior to June 21, 2011, but his unemployability due to service-connected disabilities is supported by evidence of record. The case is remanded for further consideration.
- Denied
The Veteran's right thumb disability did not meet the criteria for a higher rating, as it did not show a gap of more than two inches between the thumb pad and fingers. The Board denied an initial rating in excess of 10 percent.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's right thumb disability has worsened since the last VA examination, and a new evaluation is needed to determine its current severity.
Free starter guide for your own claim
Reading this because you were denied or under-rated? Get the plain-English next steps — your appeal options, the deadline that protects you, and how appeals like yours turn out. One email, no spam.
We will only use this to send the guide. No spam, unsubscribe any time. We never sell your information.
We are not the VA. Veterans’ Rights is an independent resource built for veterans. We are not the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, not part of the government, and not endorsed by any government agency.
This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.