The Veteran's combined rating for service-connected disabilities was 60 percent, which did not meet the schedular threshold for a TDIU. The Board found that he had the mental and physical capacity to obtain and maintain substantially gainful employment due to his service-connected disabilities.
The deciding factor: The VA examiner opined that the Veteran's service-connected left hand disabilities, bilateral pes planus of the feet, and calcaneal spurs of the ankles did not render him unable to obtain and maintain employment prior to May 2017.
- Claimed conditions
- Bilateral Pes Planus, Left Hand or Finger Disabilities (left first metacarpal fracture residuals and left index finger injury residuals with limitation of motion), Right Ankle Calcaneal Spurs, Left Ankle Calcaneal Spurs
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 60%
- Decision date
- April 28, 2021
- Citation
- 21025534
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 21025534.
What this means for you
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What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Dismissed
The Veteran's appeals for an initial compensable rating for athletes' foot and a greater than 30 percent rating for bilateral pes planus have been dismissed due to untimely VA Form 10182 submissions.,The Veteran's claim of service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome has been remanded.
- Granted
The Veteran's service connection for traumatic brain injury is granted, and he is awarded a higher level of SMC based on the need for aid and attendance due to his service-connected PTSD and additional disabilities.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient medical evidence in the file on which to decide these claims. The appellant's VA treatment records contain diagnoses of GAD and OSA, and he reported symptoms related to his disabilities during service. A new examination and opinion are required to determine if the acquired psychiatric disorder is associated with service, as well as for OSA and bilateral pes planus and plantar fasciitis.
- Granted
The Board has granted a higher initial rating of 100 percent for PTSD effective April 3, 2024, and assigned an earlier effective date of August 29, 2024, for allergic rhinitis. The Veteran's claim for DEA benefits and a higher initial rating for bilateral pes planus is denied.
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