The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a Total Disability Rating Based on Individual Unemployability (TDIU) due to service-connected disabilities prior to June 5, 2012, or due to a single service-connected disability thereafter, as his education and work history did not show that any of his service-connected conditions rendered him unemployable.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's combined disability rating was at least 70% from April 20, 2012, meeting the schedular threshold for consideration of a TDIU. However, VA examiners found no evidence to support that any single service-connected condition rendered him unemployable.
- Claimed conditions
- DDD (low back), CTS of bilateral upper extremities, MDD
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- April 29, 2021
- Citation
- 21026141
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 21026141.
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: Granted
The Board has granted an effective date of March 1, 2023 for the award of special monthly compensation (SMC) based on the need for regular aid and attendance due to service-connected PTSD with secondary major depressive disorder.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's service-connected PTSD with MDD prevented him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation prior to March 31, 2021.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including Major Depressive Disorder (MDD), unspecified trauma disorder, and schizoaffective disorder, are determined to be the result of his active-duty service. The Board has granted service connection for these conditions.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board has denied the Veteran's claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including major depressive disorder (MDD), finding that there is no competent and probative evidence linking MDD to his military service.
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