The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) because his service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment, considering his level of education and prior work experience.
The deciding factor: The combined rating for the Veteran’s service-connected disabilities is 40%, which does not meet the requirement for a TDIU based on schedular criteria. The Director also found insufficient evidence that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevent him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment.
- Claimed conditions
- right lower extremity radiculopathy, lumbosacral spine IVDS (previously evaluated as herniated nucleus propulsus), tinnitus, right lower extremity radiculopathy affecting the femoral nerve
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- November 27, 2020
- Citation
- 20075733
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 20075733.
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 has remanded the claims for service connection for hearing loss, tinnitus, and an acquired psychiatric disorder due to incomplete medical records and need for further examination.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus, arthritis, and memory loss. The decision found no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.
- Granted
The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service connected. The issues of foot disability and cardiovascular disorder are remanded for additional development.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that it is at least as likely as not that the Veteran experienced tinnitus during his active duty service.
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