The Veteran's claims for TDIU and DEA benefits were denied as effective dates prior to February 15, 2016 are not warranted due to the lack of evidence showing he was unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation by reason of his service-connected disabilities prior to that date.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not result in functional impairment sufficient to render him unable to obtain or maintain substantially gainful employment prior to February 15, 2016.
- Claimed conditions
- Pseudofolliculitis Barbae (PFB), Lumbar spine disorder, Sciatic nerve radiculopathies of the right and left lower extremities, Femoral nerve radiculopathies of the right and left lower extremities, Right ankle sprain
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- September 27, 2024
- Citation
- A24061736
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 A24061736.
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.
- Dismissed
The appeal to revise the effective date for a 50% disability rating for Pseudofolliculitis Barbae (PFB) is dismissed because the July 2024 proposed rating decision was not an appealable determination.
- Denied
The Veteran's initial noncompensable rating for PFB is denied as the condition did not manifest through scarring or disfigurement during the appeal period.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claims for service connection of chronic fatigue syndrome and vertigo are being remanded due to duty-to-assist errors. The PFB claim is denied as the disability does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating.
- Granted
Service connection for Pseudofolliculitis Barbae (PFB) is granted. The appeal of a deferral of service connection for PFB is dismissed.
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