The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his psychiatric condition and various musculoskeletal issues, did not preclude him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment. The Board found that the Veteran had a solid foundation for employment based on his education and work history, despite some limitations due to his disabilities.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's service-connected conditions did not prevent him from securing and following substantially gainful employment given his educational background and prior employment experience.
- Claimed conditions
- Psychiatric disability, Asthma, Obstructive Sleep Apnea with Asthma, Right shoulder disability, Left shoulder disability, Bilateral varicocele, Pes planus, Hernia, Erectile dysfunction, Tinnitus, Chronic fatigue syndrome, Sinusitis, Rhinitis
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- September 19, 2023
- Citation
- 23051433
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 23051433.
What this means for you
A remand is not a loss. The Board sent the case back for more development — often a new exam or missing records — before making a final decision. Many remands later end in a grant, and the decision spells out exactly what the Board wanted to see.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- 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.
- Denied
The Board denied the veteran's claims for a higher rating for PTSD and dismissed his appeals regarding increased ratings for tinnitus and a right hand disability due to lack of timely filing of Notice of Disagreement.
- Denied
The Veteran's claim for an increased rating of his psychiatric disability was the initial decision, and thus attorney fees are not eligible based on past due benefits awarded in April 2025.
- Denied
The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including GAD, MDD, bruxism, migraines/headaches, tinnitus, hip pain, iliotibial band syndrome, and leg stress fractures. The evidence does not support current diagnoses of these conditions during the appeal period.
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