The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date prior to May 2, 2014, for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) because he did not meet the schedular requirements and there was insufficient evidence to substantiate that his service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's service-connected conditions did not meet the schedular criteria for a TDIU, and the most credible evidence showed he had been employed full-time until 2009. The Board found insufficient evidence to substantiate that his disabilities rendered him unemployable.
- Claimed conditions
- lumbar spine, right Achilles tendon, left Achilles tendon, bilateral plantar fascitis
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- October 24, 2024
- Citation
- A24068733
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 899 · Granted: 45% (granted or partly granted, in the vetted decisions on this site)
Judge attribution: 2025 complete; earlier years partial.
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 A24068733.
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 Veteran withdrew his appeal for increased rating claims for lumbar spine and bilateral knee disabilities, so the case is dismissed.
- Granted
The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including lumbar spondylosis and other conditions such as obstructive sleep apnea and irritable bowel syndrome, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.
- Dismissed
Your appeal for service connection on multiple conditions has been dismissed due to the Veteran's death during the pendency of your appeal.
- Dismissed
The Veteran requested to withdraw all pending appeals due to his current 100% P&T status effective June 20, 2024.
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