The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his heart disability and diabetes mellitus with nephropathy, have rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment due to their combined effects on his physical abilities.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's multiple service-connected conditions, particularly his heart disability and diabetes mellitus with nephropathy, have resulted in significant functional impairment that prevents him from engaging in substantial gainful employment.
- Claimed conditions
- Heart disability, Diabetes mellitus with nephropathy, Low back disability, Right wrist disability, Right hip disability (limitation of flexion), Left hip disability (limitation of flexion), Tinnitus, Left carpel tunnel syndrome (noncompensable), Right carpel tunnel syndrome (noncompensable), Left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, Right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, Left hip disability (limitation of extension), Right hip disability (limitation of extension), Left hip disability (limitation of abduction), Right hip disability (limitation of abduction), Left hand disability, Right hand disability, Bilateral hearing loss (noncompensable), Hypertension (noncompensable), Liver disability to include irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) (noncompensable), Immune thrombocytopenia (noncompensable), Craniotomy scars (noncompensable), Chloracne (noncompensable), Brain aneurysm (noncompensable)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 90%
- Decision date
- March 24, 2026
- Citation
- A26026087
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 A26026087.
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 service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are not related to his military service.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a low back disability and an increased rating for his acquired psychiatric disorder. The Board found that there was no evidence linking the current disabilities to military service.
- Denied
The Veteran's service-connected low back disability alone does not prevent him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation.
- Denied
The Board denied the veteran's claims for a higher rating for PTSD and dismissed his appeals regarding increased ratings for tinnitus and a right hand disability due to lack of timely filing of Notice of Disagreement.
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