The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not preclude him from obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment prior to September 28, 2021. From September 28, 2021 to May 22, 2022, the Veteran had a combined total disability rating of 100%, which rendered the issue moot as he was already receiving SMC based on his service-connected disabilities.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's employment history and self-reported statements indicate that he was employed full-time through March 2022. The Board found this inconsistent with his August 2022 VA Form 21-8940, which stated he had been working at a homeless shelter since January 2020.
- Claimed conditions
- Bladder cancer, Chronic renal disease, Other specified trauma and stressor related disorder, Coronary artery disease, Hypertension, Diabetes mellitus, Right upper extremity diabetic neuropathy, Left upper extremity diabetic neuropathy, Right lower extremity diabetic neuropathy sciatic, Left lower extremity diabetic neuropathy sciatic, Right lower extremity diabetic neuropathy femoral, Left lower extremity diabetic neuropathy femoral
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 100%
- Decision date
- April 7, 2026
- Citation
- A26031734
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 A26031734.
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.
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- Denied
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- Denied
The Board has denied service connection for bladder cancer, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) as there is no evidence to support a link between these conditions and the Veteran's military service.
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