The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) as the evidence did not show that his service-connected disabilities precluded him from securing or following any substantially gainful occupation.
The deciding factor: The VA examinations indicated the Veteran was capable of light work, and there was no persuasive evidence showing he was unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation due to his service-connected disabilities.
- Claimed conditions
- Diabetes mellitus type II, Diabetic peripheral neuropathy (left upper extremity), Diabetic peripheral neuropathy (right upper extremity), Diabetic peripheral neuropathy (right lower extremity), Diabetic peripheral neuropathy (left lower extremity), Tinnitus, Bilateral hearing loss, Hypertension
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- October 30, 2024
- Citation
- A24070352
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 the veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, as there was no evidence of a current disability in the right ear and insufficient evidence to establish a nexus between the left ear hearing loss and service.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus type II and hypertension, to include as secondary to left orchiectomy, for further development in accordance with the PACT Act.
- 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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the matter for a medical clarification regarding whether the Veteran's service-connected epilepsy has aggravated his bilateral hearing loss.
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