The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his left hip condition, did not prevent him from securing or maintaining substantially gainful employment prior to February 15, 2019.
The deciding factor: The evidence showed mild to moderate functional impairment of the left hip that would likely prevent the Veteran from maintaining physically demanding employment but would not preclude less demanding office work involving sitting or occasional light activity.
- Claimed conditions
- Degenerative joint disease of the left hip, Limitation of extension of the left hip, Impairment of the thigh associated with left hip
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- March 4, 2021
- Citation
- 21012638
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 21012638.
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: Denied
The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for eligibility for specially adapted housing or a special home adaptation grant due to lack of permanent and total disability.
- Whole decision: Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for degenerative joint disease of the right hip, left hip, and left shoulder, as well as PTSD. The claim for a higher rating for the right knee scar was denied.
- Whole decision: Dismissed
The Board dismissed all claims for increased ratings and earlier effective dates as they were part of a pending Legacy appeal.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board denied increased ratings for the Veteran's low back condition, bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy, and bilateral hip conditions, finding that the evidence did not support higher ratings at any point during the appeal period.
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