The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to service-connected disabilities, finding that his service-connected conditions did not prevent him from obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment.
The deciding factor: The evidence showed that the Veteran had worked as a security interviewer and continued to work part-time delivering meals through 'meals on wheels'. The VA examinations indicated some physical limitations but no evidence of unemployment due to his disabilities.
- Claimed conditions
- lumbar spine degenerative disc disease, prostatitis, rhabdomyolysis (rads) of the right lower extremity associated with the lumbar spine disability, hypertension, irritable colon syndrome and gastric ulcers, tinnitus, radiculopathy of the left lower extremity associated with the lumbar spine disability, surgical scar of the right occipital region of the head, painful scar of the back of the head, painful surgical scar of the left elbow/forearm, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, hemorrhoids, surgical scar left elbow/forearm, right ear hearing loss with ear infection/surgery
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- December 2, 2021
- Citation
- 21072248
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 21072248.
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: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for hypertension and peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper and lower extremities due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for hearing loss, tinnitus, and an acquired psychiatric disorder due to incomplete medical records and need for further examination.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus, arthritis, and memory loss. The decision found no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service connected. The issues of foot disability and cardiovascular disorder are remanded for additional development.
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