The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) as the evidence did not show that she was unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation due to her service-connected disabilities.
The deciding factor: The evidence showed that the Veteran had a combined rating of 90 percent, with at least one disability rated 40 percent or more disabling. However, it did not show that she was unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation throughout the review period.
- Claimed conditions
- major depressive disorder, cervical spine fusion with degenerative disc disease, right ear tinnitus, acid reflux, bilateral patellofemoral syndrome, bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome, atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, limited range of motion of bilateral ankles, lumbosacral strain with facet hypertrophy, bilateral leg radiculopathy, impairment of right hip, left shin splints, hypertension, polycystic ovarian syndrome, thigh/limitation of extension of right hip, thigh/limitation of flexion of right hip, scar, anterior neck status post cervical fusion surgery
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- March 24, 2025
- Citation
- A25027118
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.
- Granted
The Board granted an effective date of October 21, 2021, for the grant of service connection for hypertension.
- Dismissed
The appeal for a compensable rating for left ear hearing loss, service connection for right ear hearing loss, and bilateral vision condition was dismissed. Service connection for hypertension, congestive heart failure, and coronary artery disease was denied.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including prostate cancer and related disabilities, urinary incontinence, sleep apnea, hypertension, varicose veins, lumbar spine disability, hip arthritis, shoulder arthritis, ankle arthritis, knee strain, knee replacement, and hand arthritis. The only condition granted was a 10 percent rating for a fracture of the right proximal first metacarpal.
- Dismissed
The claim for an earlier effective date for service connection for major depressive disorder is dismissed as moot because the earliest effective date was granted during the pendency of this appeal.
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.