The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment, and therefore TDIU is denied.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's service-connected knee conditions are rated at a combined disability rating of 50%, which does not meet the required percentage standards for TDIU. The Social Security Administration (SSA) determined that the Veteran was not disabled due to his service-connected disabilities, and VA examiners also found no evidence of functional limitations preventing him from obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment.
- Claimed conditions
- right knee, degenerative arthritis, right knee, post-operative residuals of patella tendon rupture, left knee, residuals of patella tendon rupture, left knee, instability
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- January 27, 2021
- Citation
- 21004618
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 21004618.
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: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case due to a duty-to-assist error regarding the left knee disability. The Veteran's left knee disability was pre-existing and the examiner must determine if it was aggravated during service.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for a higher rating for the Veteran's right knee disability to correct a pre-decisional duty to assist error, specifically an inadequate VA examination.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the issues of entitlement to increased ratings for left knee disabilities due to the need for a medical opinion that addresses the severity of the disability without considering the use of ameliorative effects of medication.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the issues of entitlement to increased staged ratings for left knee, limitation of extension, limitation of flexion, and instability due to an inadequate medical opinion.
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