The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities, finding that his service-connected conditions did not prevent him from securing and following substantially gainful employment.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's service-connected conditions, including residuals of right basilar skull fracture with headaches, chronic gastrointestinal disorder (including small intestinal bacterial overgrowth, irritable bowel syndrome, and gastroesophageal reflux disease), loss of smell, loss of taste, and lower abdominal scars, did not prevent him from securing or following substantially gainful employment.
- Claimed conditions
- asplenia, chronic gastrointestinal disorder (including small intestinal bacterial overgrowth, irritable bowel syndrome, and gastroesophageal reflux disease), loss of smell, loss of taste, residuals of right basilar skull fracture with headaches, lower abdominal scar (painful)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- April 6, 2023
- Citation
- 23021215
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 23021215.
What this means for you
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What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Dismissed
The Veteran's appeal for service connection on multiple conditions has been dismissed due to their death during the pendency of the appeal.
- Granted
Effective June 15, 2021, service connection for residuals of a stroke with neurological issues of the left leg and loss of balance has been granted.,Effective June 15, 2021, service connection for visual impairment has been granted.,Effective June 15, 2021, service connection for Parkinson's disease has been granted.,Effective June 15, 2021, service connection for a neurological disability of the left upper extremity has been granted.,Effective June 15, 2021, service connection for erectile dysfunction has been granted.,Effective March 3, 2022, service connection for a neurological disability of the right upper extremity has been granted.,Effective March 3, 2022, service connection for difficulty swallowing and chewing on the left side has been granted.,Effective March 3, 2022, service connection for stooped posture of the left side has been granted.,Effective March 3, 2022, service connection for stooped posture of the right side has been granted.,Effective March 3, 2022, service connection for loss of smell has been granted.
- Granted
The Veteran's TDIU and DEA claims were granted effective from May 6, 2020. His SMC claim was denied as his service-connected disabilities did not affect his ability to work.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for loss of smell, finding that there was no evidence showing a present disability and no nexus to military service or any service-connected condition.
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