The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation prior to June 10, 2011. The Board determined that the criteria for a TDIU were not met.
The deciding factor: The evidence did not support the contention that any of the service connected disabilities supported an exceptional situation preventing the Veteran from obtaining and maintaining employment due to his nonservice-connected heart condition and knee problems.
- Claimed conditions
- Right foot disability, Left knee degenerative joint disease, Right knee degenerative joint disease (prior to November 30, 2007), Chip fracture of the distal right fibula
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- December 11, 2020
- Citation
- 20078637
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 20078637.
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.
- Denied
The Veteran's right and left foot disabilities are currently rated at 10 percent each, but the Board found that they do not meet or approximate the criteria for a higher rating under any applicable diagnostic codes.
- Dismissed
The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection for a right foot disability and an increased rating for bilateral hearing loss. The Veteran's claims for service connection for left knee, right knee, and low back disabilities have been granted.
- Denied
The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for left and right knee disabilities were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a rating in excess of 10 percent for left knee degenerative joint disease.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to errors in duty to assist and incomplete medical opinions. The right foot disability claim is being addressed, including considering a congenital defect theory of entitlement.
Free starter guide for your own claim
Reading this because you were denied or under-rated? Get the plain-English next steps — your appeal options, the deadline that protects you, and how appeals like yours turn out. One email, no spam.
We will only use this to send the guide. No spam, unsubscribe any time. We never sell your information.
We are not the VA. Veterans’ Rights is an independent resource built for veterans. We are not the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, not part of the government, and not endorsed by any government agency.
This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.