The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unemployable, as he is currently employed and has been for several years.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's employment history shows that he was still working at the time of the decision, which contradicts the claim that his disabilities prevent him from securing or maintaining gainful employment.
- Claimed conditions
- Degenerative Joint Disease (Cervical Spine), Mechanical Low Back Pain with Traumatic Arthritis in Thoracic Spine, Retropatellar Pain Syndrome, Left Knee, Allergic Rhinitis, Right Lower Extremity Radiculopathy Associated with Mechanical Low Back Pain with Traumatic Arthritis in Thoracic Spine, Onychomycosis, Saphenous Nerve Neuropathy, Left Lower Extremity
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 60%
- Decision date
- May 20, 2021
- Citation
- 21031179
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 21031179.
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.
- Denied
The Veteran's allergic rhinitis is currently rated as 10 percent disabling prior to September 16, 2024 and noncompensable thereafter. The Board found the evidence against finding that his condition met the criteria for a higher rating.
- Denied
The Veteran's initial claim for an increased rating for allergic rhinitis was denied as his symptoms did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating under Diagnostic Code 6522.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has determined that the VA medical exams provided are inadequate for rating purposes and remands the case to obtain an adequate examination and opinion regarding the Veteran's service-connected allergic rhinitis. The Veteran is entitled to a higher disability rating for his service-connected allergic rhinitis.
- Denied
The Veteran's allergic rhinitis has not been manifested by greater than 50 percent obstruction of the nasal passage on both sides or complete obstruction on one side, and no nasal polyps have been found. Therefore, an initial compensable rating for allergic rhinitis is denied.
Free starter guide for your own claim
Reading this because you were denied or under-rated? Get the plain-English next steps — your appeal options, the deadline that protects you, and how appeals like yours turn out. One email, no spam.
We will only use this to send the guide. No spam, unsubscribe any time. We never sell your information.
We are not the VA. Veterans’ Rights is an independent resource built for veterans. We are not the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, not part of the government, and not endorsed by any government agency.
This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.