The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude her from obtaining or maintaining a substantially gainful occupation.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, while significant, do not prevent her from securing and following substantially gainful employment.
- Claimed conditions
- left shoulder impingement syndrome with degenerative changes and possible rotator cuff tear, degenerative joint disease (DJD) of lumbar spine, gastroesophageal reflux disorder (GERD), residuals of stroke with left upper extremity weakness associated with hyperthyroidism, rheumatoid arthritis (indicated by hypothyroidism and other symptoms), hypothyroidism, slow speech, left tenth cranial nerve, due to residuals of stroke associated with hyperthyroidism
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 70%
- Decision date
- March 27, 2023
- Citation
- 23018785
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 23018785.
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 Veteran's initial compensable evaluation for hypothyroidism is denied, and the Board finds that service connection for lumbar degenerative disc disease and bilateral foot condition should be remanded due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error.
- Denied
The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of hypothyroidism and therefore denied their claim for service connection.
- Dismissed
The Veteran's appeal for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus was dismissed. The Board granted service connection for hypothyroidism and Hashimoto's thyroiditis with complications, including depression, anxiety, insomnia, vitamin deficiencies, memory/cognitive impairment, unexplained arthralgias, fatigue, hair loss, and bradycardia.
- Granted
The appellant is granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) and basic eligibility for Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) benefits, effective September 1, 2020.
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