The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, which include cardiomyopathy, reactive airway disease, obstructive sleep apnea, primary insomnia, right shoulder degenerative joint disease, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), left and right ankle strains, bilateral lattice peripheral retinal degeneration, hypertension, erectile dysfunction, and migraine headaches, have a combined rating of 100 percent. The Veteran does not meet the criteria for an employment handicap due to his service-connected disabilities, as he has overcome any impairment to employability. Therefore, VR&E services under Chapter 31 are denied.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not substantially contribute in a substantial part to the overall vocational impairment and he has overcome any impairment to employability through his experience and education.
- Claimed conditions
- cardiomyopathy, reactive airway disease, obstructive sleep apnea, primary insomnia, right shoulder degenerative joint disease, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), left ankle strain, right ankle strain, bilateral lattice peripheral retinal degeneration, hypertension, erectile dysfunction, migraine headaches
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- March 21, 2022
- Citation
- 22016002
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 22016002.
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: Dismissed
The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for diabetes mellitus type II with erectile dysfunction was denied as the evidence did not show that he had been diagnosed and manifested to at least a 10 percent disability rating on or prior to May 8, 2001.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral hearing loss, migraine headaches, and PTSD due to additional development of records and examination.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, finding that there is no competent evidence to support a finding that his current condition began in or as a result of service.
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