The Veteran's claims for TDIU and DEA benefits prior to June 20, 2011 were denied as the evidence did not show he was unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation due to his service-connected disabilities.
The deciding factor: The Veteran had multiple non-service connected conditions (such as substance abuse, peripheral vascular disease, and right knee condition) that impacted his ability to work, making it inconsistent with the medical evidence that his service-connected foot conditions alone prevented him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation prior to June 20, 2011.
- Claimed conditions
- pes planus, warts of the hands and feet, peripheral vascular disease, cervical spinal stenosis, right knee condition
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 30%
- Decision date
- September 3, 2020
- Citation
- 20058569
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 20058569.
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 has granted service connection for bilateral plantar fasciitis, finding that the Veteran's pre-existing pes planus condition was aggravated by service. The effective date is August 15, 2025.
- Granted
The Veteran's right knee disability is service-connected as it resulted from an injury sustained during active service.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for left and right knee conditions due to insufficient medical opinions in the January 2024 rating decision. The AOJ is instructed to consider any new evidence submitted by the Veteran, including a supplemental claim for right knee condition.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for cervical spinal stenosis, right upper extremity cervical radiculopathy, and left upper extremity cervical radiculopathy due to new relevant evidence submitted by the Veteran.
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