The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation, as his non-service-connected cataracts prevented him from securing or following such employment.
The deciding factor: The Veteran left his job due to cataracts, which is a non-service-connected condition, rather than his service-connected disabilities.
- Claimed conditions
- Degenerative disc disease lumbar spine, Left foot first metatarsal and first cuneiform arthrodesis with residual pain (previously rated as residuals, surgery, left foot, with degenerative joint disease, left first metatarsal), Left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy (sciatic nerve) associated with degenerative disc disease lumbar spine, Left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy [femoral nerve] associated with degenerative disc disease lumbar spine, Residuals, fracture, right long finger, Hypertension, Right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy (sciatic nerve) associated with degenerative disc disease lumbar spine, Adjustment disorder with depressed mood associated with degenerative disc disease lumbar spine
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 80%
- Decision date
- November 3, 2021
- Citation
- A21017828
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 A21017828.
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.
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- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension, finding that there was no evidence of a nexus between his current condition and active duty service or herbicide exposure.
- Denied
The Board has denied service connection for hypertension and has remanded the issue of an increased rating for skin condition.
- Granted
The Board has restored the Veteran's 10% rating for hypertension effective December 1, 2025 and denied a rating in excess of 10%. The reduction from 10% to noncompensable was not proper.
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