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 assigned
- None in this 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. Look up the original decision on VA.gov (opens in a new tab) using citation 21072248.
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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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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