The Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) prior to January 10, 2017 was denied. The appeal seeking TDIU for the period from January 10, 2017 onward is dismissed as moot due to the grant of a combined schedular 100 percent rating and SMC at the housebound rate.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's employment during the relevant periods did not preclude him from obtaining substantially gainful employment consistent with his education and experience, thus he was not unemployable for VA purposes prior to January 10, 2017.
- Claimed conditions
- Service Connected Disabilities
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- January 19, 2021
- Citation
- 21002923
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. Read the original VA decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 21002923.
What this means for you
A final Board denial may be appealed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, generally within 120 days of the Board mailing date. A Supplemental Claim with new and relevant evidence is a separate option. Another Higher-Level Review of the Board decision is not available. Check your own notice: this historical decision does not set your deadline.
What you can do next
Use your own notice and decision stage. A remanded issue is not a final court-appealable denial. VA review guidance and CAVC filing instructions (U.S. federal; reviewed October 7, 2026).
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevented him from securing and following substantially gainful employment from December 16, 2015 to December 23, 2015. A TDIU on an extraschedular basis is granted for this period.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claim for a total rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disability (TDIU) prior to January 21, 2025. The RO's incomplete development efforts and inadequate VA examination are noted.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claim for Total Disability Based on Individual Unemployability (TDIU) due to incomplete earnings records from the Social Security Administration. The AOJ is instructed to obtain these records and review them before readjudicating the case.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Board has restored the Veteran's entitlement to a Total Disability Rating Based on Individual Unemployability (TDIU) and Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) effective February 1, 2021. The evidence did not meet the 'clear and convincing' standard required for discontinuance of these benefits.
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