The Board denied a total disability rating based upon individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities, finding that the Veteran's combined service-connected disabilities did not prevent him from substantially gainful employment.
The deciding factor: The evidence showed functional limitations but also demonstrated that the Veteran could manage his farm work, which was consistent with an ability to engage in substantial gainful employment.
- Claimed conditions
- urethral scarring and chronic prostatitis, incisional hernia, residual of surgery in 1979, abdominal adhesions, residual, right kidney nephrolithiasis, abdominal surgical scars, abdominal scar, non painful or unstable associated with incisional hernia, residual of surgery in 1979
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 70%
- Decision date
- August 22, 2023
- Citation
- 23046607
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 23046607.
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 appeals for earlier effective dates and initial compensable rating have been dismissed due to his withdrawal of these issues during the April 2022 Board hearing.
- Denied
The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation, consistent with his history, education, skill and training.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of intestinal surgery, including abdominal adhesions and gall bladder removal; gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD); irritable bowel syndrome (IBS); a disability of the anus and rectum; rating in excess of 40 percent for duodenal ulcer disease; and compensable rating for residual scar from post-vagotomy and pyloroplasty must be remanded due to incomplete STRs, need for additional medical opinions, and need for VA examinations.
- Denied
The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for residuals of hysterectomy and abdominal adhesions were denied as the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under applicable VA regulations.
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