The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the schedular criteria for a TDIU, and there is insufficient evidence to support an extraschedular TDIU prior to September 21, 2015.
The deciding factor: VA medical assessments show that the Veteran has completed four years of college and attended law school, indicating sufficient education and vocational experience. The VA examiners found no significant impairment in his ability to perform sedentary work due to his service-connected disabilities.
- Claimed conditions
- GAD (Generalized Anxiety Disorder), Cold injury of the right foot, Cold injury of the left foot
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 50%
- Decision date
- December 12, 2023
- Citation
- 23065764
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 23065764.
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 service-connected GAD and residuals of TBI are rated at 70 percent beginning May 8, 2017. This grant is for purposes of accrued benefits.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has determined that the December 2013 rating decision, which granted service connection for GAD with MDD and assigned a 50 percent initial rating, was not final due to new and material evidence received within one year of the decision. The matter is being remanded to address whether an effective date prior to February 5, 2017, for the award of TDIU is warranted.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for service-connected generalized anxiety disorder, cold injury of the left foot, and cold injury of the right foot. The TDIU claim is also being remanded.
- Granted
The Veteran's service-connected disabilities (eye disorder, cold injury of the left hand, right hand, right foot, and left foot) have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation for over one year prior to his TDIU claim. The Board finds that he is unemployable due to these conditions.
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