The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment, and his TDIU claim is denied.
The deciding factor: The Veteran has a combined disability evaluation of 80 percent as of August 19, 2020, which meets the percentage requirements for a TDIU. However, he is currently employed in mechanical engineering and pursuing an Associate of Arts Degree in Business Management, indicating that his service-connected disabilities do not render him unemployable.
- Claimed conditions
- left rotator cuff syndrome with degenerative joint disease, lumbar strain, left knee strain, right knee strain, bilateral plantar fasciitis, chest musculoskeletal strain, left varicose and myofascial pain syndrome
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 50%
- Decision date
- November 19, 2020
- Citation
- 20074367
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 granted service connection for left knee strain, right knee strain, right wrist strain, and TBI. The Veteran's PTSD rating was remanded for further development.
- Remanded (sent back)
The appeal is remanded to correct pre-decisional duty to assist errors, including the failure to obtain relevant treatment records and provide adequate VA examinations.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for a rating in excess of 10 percent for bilateral hip and knee disabilities, as well as a TDIU claim, to ensure adequate VA examinations are conducted.
- Granted
The Board granted a separate rating of 10 percent for bilateral plantar fasciitis effective February 1, 2023.
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