The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment, and the Board finds that he is still capable of sedentary work.
The deciding factor: The Veteran has several service-connected disabilities with combined ratings exceeding 80%, but his level of education, skill, and previous work experience are sufficient to allow him to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation in a sedentary capacity.
- Claimed conditions
- coronary artery disease (CAD), osteoarthritis of the right knee, osteoarthritis of the left knee, laxity of the right knee, laxity of the left knee, diabetic peripheral neuropathy of the right upper extremity, diabetic peripheral neuropathy of the left upper extremity, diabetes mellitus type II, diabetic peripheral neuropathy affecting the sciatic nerve of both lower extremities, diabetic peripheral neuropathy affecting the femoral nerve of both lower extremities, bilateral hearing loss, scar on right shoulder
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 80%
- Decision date
- November 20, 2020
- Citation
- 20074611
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.
- Dismissed
The Veteran withdrew the appeals for service connection for bilateral pes planus, obstructive sleep apnea, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for multiple conditions, including bilateral hearing loss and various musculoskeletal issues, as well as an initial rating in excess of 0 percent for rhinitis. However, the Board granted a 70 percent rating for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
- Denied
The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for left foot bursitis and coronary artery disease, as well as special monthly compensation based on housebound status.
- Partly granted
The Veteran's tinnitus is granted, while fibromyalgia, internal or external hemorrhoids, bilateral hearing loss, and neuropathy are denied.
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