The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not result in total unemployability, as he has not provided specific information about his employment history and income levels.
The deciding factor: The Veteran did not provide a completed VA Form 21-8940 detailing his educational and occupational history, which is essential for determining whether he is unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation due to his service-connected disabilities.
- Claimed conditions
- Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), right shoulder, cervical spine, right upper extremity radiculopathy, lumbosacral degenerative arthritis, tinnitus, right femoral nerve with right hip strain, Frey's syndrome
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 90%
- Decision date
- December 4, 2023
- Citation
- 23064003
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 23064003.
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 Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD is granted as the evidence shows a current diagnosis of PTSD, an in-service stressor, and a medical link between the two.
- Denied
The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 50% since March 23, 2004. The Board found that a higher rating is not warranted prior to February 15, 2005 due to the severity of his symptoms and their impact on his social and occupational functioning.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and any acquired psychiatric disorder, finding that there was no evidence to support a link between his current mental health conditions and his military service.
- 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.
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