The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for a TDIU as they are rated at 20% and 40%, respectively, which is sufficient to consider him unemployable. The Board finds that his employment history and educational background support his ability to maintain substantially gainful employment despite his disability.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from securing or maintaining a substantially gainful occupation as evidenced by his past work experience, current vocational rehabilitation efforts, and statements indicating he is capable of working.
- Claimed conditions
- lumbar spine disability, r radiculopathy of the lower right extremity
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 50%
- Decision date
- February 24, 2021
- Citation
- 21010448
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 21010448.
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 a lumbar spine disability, left lower extremity radiculopathy, and right lower extremity radiculopathy as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine disability.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the claims for miscarriage, cervical spine disability, lumbar spine disability, and right elbow disability due to insufficient examination opinions and incomplete service history verification.
- Dismissed
The Board has dismissed the Veteran's claims for service connection for left knee disability, right knee disability, lumbar spine disability, and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) as these issues have been addressed in a separate docket.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus. Service connection is being remanded for the lumbar spine disability and right knee and calf disabilities.
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