The Board denied entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) prior to January 6, 2021, as the appellant's service-connected disabilities did not render him unemployable. From January 6, 2021, the issue of TDIU is moot due to the grant of a 100 percent rating for coronary artery disease and SMC based on housebound status.
The deciding factor: The evidence does not support that the appellant's service-connected disabilities preclude substantially gainful employment prior to January 6, 2021. From January 6, 2021, TDIU is moot due to a 100 percent rating for coronary artery disease and SMC based on housebound status.
- Claimed conditions
- Right ankle lateral collateral ligament sprain, Tinnitus, Residuals of a fracture of the fifth metacarpal of the right hand, Hypertension (HTN), Bilateral hypertensive retinopathy associated with HTN, Erectile dysfunction (ED) associated with HTN
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- January 3, 2024
- Citation
- 24000533
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 granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's conditions are related to in-service noise exposure.
- Partly granted
The Board granted an effective date of May 17, 2019, for a 70 percent disability rating for PTSD but denied earlier effective dates for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus.
- Partly granted
The Board granted readjudication of previously denied claims for service connection for PTSD and COPD, while remanding other issues including entitlement to service connection for an eye disorder, hypertension, tinnitus, a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss, TDIU, and an initial rating for PTSD.
- Dismissed
The Board dismissed the Veteran's appeals for service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus due to a lack of jurisdiction.
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