The Board denied the Veteran's claim for TDIU benefits, finding that his service-connected disabilities did not render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.
The deciding factor: The evidence showed that the Veteran was still employed full-time despite having multiple service-connected disabilities, including major depressive disorder and peripheral neuropathies of both upper and lower extremities. The Board concluded that these conditions alone were not sufficient to prevent the Veteran from obtaining and maintaining all forms of substantially gainful employment.
- Claimed conditions
- Major depressive disorder, Bilateral peripheral neuropathies (sciatic) of the lower extremities, Peripheral neuropathy of the right upper extremity, Peripheral neuropathy of the left upper extremity, Diabetes mellitus type II
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 100%
- Decision date
- November 6, 2020
- Citation
- 20071982
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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus type II and hypertension, to include as secondary to left orchiectomy, for further development in accordance with the PACT Act.
- Partly granted
The Board granted a disability rating of 50 percent for the Veteran's left shoulder disability and service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the left upper extremity, both secondary to his service-connected left shoulder disability.
- Granted
The Board granted initial ratings of 40 percent for lumbar spine disorder, 70 percent for major depressive disorder, and 40 percent for left lower extremity radiculopathy. TDIU and SMC based on housebound status were also granted.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, currently diagnosed as other specified trauma and stressor related disorder and major depressive disorder.
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