The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities, finding that his service-connected conditions did not prevent him from securing or following substantially gainful employment.
The deciding factor: The evidence showed that the Veteran was capable of performing physical activities consistent with his past employment despite his service-connected conditions, leading to a conclusion that he could secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation.
- Claimed conditions
- lumbar strain status post L4-5, L5-S1 fusion, radiculopathy of the right lower extremity, left lower extremity sciatic nerve neuritis, erectile dysfunction without penile deformity, ulcer disease status post gasterectomy with scars, stable surgical scar secondary to gasterectomy, left lower extremity external cutaneous nerve, right lower extremity cutaneous cutaneous nerve, unspecified bipolar and related disorder, unspecified anxiety disorder
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- May 4, 2021
- Citation
- 21027048
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 21027048.
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.
- Granted
The Veteran's service-connected unspecified anxiety disorder alone warrants a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU), and he has additional service-connected disabilities rated at least 60 percent. The Board grants special monthly compensation (SMC) at the housebound rate.
- Granted
The Veteran's anxiety and depressive disorders were rated at a 70 percent disability rating effective May 6, 2015.,Effective May 6, 2015, the Veteran was granted an earlier effective date for DEA benefits.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claim for service connection for acquired psychiatric disability, including unspecified anxiety disorder, depressive disorder, kleptomania, and PTSD is being remanded due to the AOJ's failure to obtain medical records from his periods of incarceration or a medical opinion regarding his diagnoses.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including unspecified anxiety disorder (claimed as PTSD, memory loss, a sleep disorder, and uncontrollable alcohol disorder), is being remanded due to the need for a medical opinion.
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