The Board denied entitlement to a total disability rating based upon individual unemployability (TDIU) due to service-connected disabilities.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude substantially gainful employment, and the evidence does not show that his service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation at any time during the appeal period.
- Claimed conditions
- Residuals of a right ankle contusion, Bilateral hearing loss, Lumbar degenerative disc disease with degenerative arthritis, Tinnitus, Right foot metatarsalgia, Hypertension, Right lower extremity hemosiderin staining
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- April 9, 2025
- Citation
- 25004823
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.
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.