The Board found that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not render him unemployable, as while his economic component was met, the noneconomic component was not.
The deciding factor: The evidence showed significant physical limitations but lacked information on the nature of the Veteran's prior employment and skills, making it impossible to determine if he could perform any type of work.
- Claimed conditions
- bilateral pes planus, lumbar spine degenerative arthritis and disc disease, right knee patellofemoral syndrome, left knee patellofemoral syndrome, right foot hallux valgus, left foot hallux valgus, left lower extremity radiculopathy, right lower extremity radiculopathy, right ankle arthritis, left ankle arthritis
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- January 12, 2024
- Citation
- 24002117
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.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including prostate cancer and related disabilities, urinary incontinence, sleep apnea, hypertension, varicose veins, lumbar spine disability, hip arthritis, shoulder arthritis, ankle arthritis, knee strain, knee replacement, and hand arthritis. The only condition granted was a 10 percent rating for a fracture of the right proximal first metacarpal.
- Dismissed
The Veteran withdrew the appeals for service connection for bilateral pes planus, obstructive sleep apnea, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for multiple conditions, including an acquired psychiatric disorder, sleep apnea, hypertension, and various musculoskeletal and skin disabilities.
- Partly granted
The Board denied earlier effective dates for the grant of service connection and granted initial 40 percent ratings for left upper extremity CTS, right lower extremity radiculopathy, and left lower extremity radiculopathy.
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