The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from securing and maintaining substantially gainful employment.
The deciding factor: The evidence shows that the Veteran has maintained employment until retirement in 2018, with continued employment reported after 2018. The VA examinations did not indicate that any of his service-connected conditions precluded him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.
- Claimed conditions
- Obstructive sleep apnea, Left knee meniscal tear with chondromalacia patella, Right knee meniscal tear with chondromalacia patella, Lumbar spine degenerative disc disease of L4-5, Left ear hearing loss, Bilateral tinnitus, Hypertension, Right knee instability, Left knee instability, Degenerative arthritis of the first metatarsal joint of the left foot, Residuals of a right foot injury, Left knee limitation of extension, Right wrist synovial cyst, Left ankle sprain associated with left knee meniscal tear with chondromalacia, Right ankle sprain associated with right knee meniscal tear with chondromalacia patella, Allergic rhinitis, Pseudofolliculitis barbae, Headaches
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- February 6, 2024
- Citation
- 24006332
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. Read the original VA decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 24006332.
What this means for you
A final Board denial may be appealed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, generally within 120 days of the Board mailing date. A Supplemental Claim with new and relevant evidence is a separate option. Another Higher-Level Review of the Board decision is not available. Check your own notice: this historical decision does not set your deadline.
What you can do next
Use your own notice and decision stage. A remanded issue is not a final court-appealable denial. VA review guidance and CAVC filing instructions (U.S. federal; reviewed October 7, 2026).
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board denied the claim of service connection for hypertension, finding that it did not manifest during service and is not causally related to the Veteran's exposure to herbicides or service.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension, finding that there was no evidence of a nexus between his current condition and active duty service or herbicide exposure.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board has denied service connection for hypertension and has remanded the issue of an increased rating for skin condition.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Board has restored the Veteran's 10% rating for hypertension effective December 1, 2025 and denied a rating in excess of 10%. The reduction from 10% to noncompensable was not proper.
Free starter guide for your own claim
Reading this because you were denied or under-rated? Get the plain-English next steps — your appeal options, the deadline that protects you, and how appeals like yours turn out. One email, no spam.
We will only use this to send the guide. No spam, unsubscribe any time. We never sell your information.
We are not the VA. Veterans’ Rights is an independent resource built for veterans. We are not the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, not part of the government, and not endorsed by any government agency.
This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.