The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not prevent him from securing or following substantially gainful employment prior to September 28, 2012. Therefore, the claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability is denied.
The deciding factor: Medical records and vocational rehabilitation assessments do not support that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevented him from securing or maintaining gainful employment.
- Claimed conditions
- Right ankle condition, Left knee condition, Right knee condition
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 30%
- Decision date
- November 30, 2023
- Citation
- 23063461
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 23063461.
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.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's right knee condition as secondary to his service-connected right ankle condition.
- Dismissed
The Board dismissed the Veteran's appeals for higher disability ratings in excess of 20 percent for cervical spine and lumbar spine conditions, left knee condition, right knee condition, and sinusitis. The Veteran was granted service connection for chronic laryngeal papillomatosis.
- Granted
The Veteran's service-connected PTSD has prevented him from securing and maintaining gainful employment throughout the appeal period, leading to a grant of TDIU. The issue of service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome was withdrawn by the appellant.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has determined that new and relevant evidence has been received to readjudicate the claim of entitlement to service connection for right knee condition. The AOJ is therefore remanding this case.
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