The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, and the Board finds that a TDIU is not warranted.
The deciding factor: VA examiners' opinions indicate the Veteran has significant limitations in using his left upper extremity but retains full function in his dominant right upper extremity, and he was found disabled by Social Security Disability based on obesity, obstructive sleep apnea, degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine, osteoarthritis/tear of the left shoulder, and major depressive disorder.
- Claimed conditions
- General anxiety disorder, AC joint arthropathy, left shoulder, Peripheral neuropathy to the left upper extremity
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 30%
- Decision date
- December 11, 2020
- Citation
- 20078520
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 20078520.
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 an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, bipolar disorder type II, and general anxiety disorder. The decision is based on new evidence received after the April 2017 rating decision that shows a current diagnosis of these conditions and their relationship to in-service stressors.
- Denied
The Veteran's claims for an increased rating for PTSD and a TDIU were denied because he failed to report for a VA examination scheduled in October 2023 without providing good cause.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for service connection due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error in failing to obtain the Veteran's complete service treatment records.
- Granted
The Veteran was granted a total rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities prior to September 13, 2019.
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