The Veteran's TDIU claim is denied as he had a substantially gainful employment prior to October 29, 2015 and the evidence does not substantiate a reasonable possibility that he was unemployable due to his service-connected disabilities.
The deciding factor: The Veteran had a substantially gainful job as a civilian firefighter and medic for the military prior to October 29, 2015, which is considered substantial employment. The evidence did not show that any of his service-connected disabilities prevented him from securing or following such employment.
- Claimed conditions
- right knee (limitation of flexion), thoracic spine strain (limitation of extension), right knee (limited extension), left knee (limited flexion), tinnitus, left knee (instability), right lower extremity radiculopathy, left lower extremity radiculopathy, right knee surgical scar, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), bilateral plantar fasciitis, neck strain, migraine headaches, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- August 21, 2023
- Citation
- 23046279
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 23046279.
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 hearing loss, tinnitus, and an acquired psychiatric disorder due to incomplete medical records and need for further examination.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including bipolar disorder and PTSD. The Veteran will be asked to provide additional medical records and undergo a VA 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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and major depressive disorder, is being remanded due to the need for additional development regarding his alleged stressors.
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