The Board denied the veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) because the service-connected disabilities, either alone or in combination, did not render him unable to obtain and maintain substantially gainful employment.

The deciding factor: The Veteran's combined rating during the period under consideration was 50 percent, which does not meet the schedular criteria for TDIU.

Claimed conditions

acquired psychiatric condition (bipolar disorder), left hip joint replacement with heterotopic ossification and instability, degenerative arthritis of thoracolumbar spine with thoracogenic scoliosis and wedge compression at T12, headaches associated with acquired psychiatric condition, sleep apnea associated with acquired psychiatric condition, left knee instability, right knee degenerative arthritis with patellofemoral pain syndrome and patella tendonitis, left knee degenerative arthritis with patellofemoral pain syndrome and patellar tendonitis, right hip strain, bilateral patella chondromalacia, wedge compression of the T12, recurrent low back pain, left knee scars, right knee scars, hypertension, left lateral hip scar

How they argued it

Direct service connection

Exposure basis

None

Rating assigned

None in this decision

Decision date

January 30, 2025

Citation

A25008444

Want to see how appeals like this one tend to go? Appeals like mine