The Veteran's service-connected disabilities alone do not render him unable to obtain or maintain substantially gainful employment consistent with his past work history, education, training, and skills.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's service-connected disabilities are rated at a combined evaluation of 80 percent, which meets the schedular threshold for TDIU. However, he is unemployable due to his PTSD, alcohol abuse, depression, anxiety, back disability, foot disabilities, knee disabilities, and wrist disabilities preventing him from securing or following any substantially gainful occupation.
- Claimed conditions
- Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Lumbosacral strain, Right wrist strain, Left wrist strain, Right knee patellofemoral syndrome (PFS), Left knee PFS, Right foot scar, Tinnitus, Bilateral plantar fasciitis
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 80%
- Decision date
- July 20, 2022
- Citation
- 22041570
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 22041570.
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.
- Granted
The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD is granted as the evidence shows a current diagnosis of PTSD, an in-service stressor, and a medical link between the two.
- Denied
The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 50% since March 23, 2004. The Board found that a higher rating is not warranted prior to February 15, 2005 due to the severity of his symptoms and their impact on his social and occupational functioning.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and any acquired psychiatric disorder, finding that there was no evidence to support a link between his current mental health conditions and his military service.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are not related to his military service.
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