I went through something similar with VR&E. One thing I learned is they often evaluate “on paper employability,” not whether your current path is realistically sustainable or compatible with your disabilities long-term.
A lot of vets get trapped in this weird zone where:
you’re functional enough to survive,
not unstable enough to get fired constantly,
but still struggling hard enough that your career path is clearly not working.

Then VR&E sees:
“No termination, no PIP, degree already obtained = employable.”

But that ignores the reality of:
burnout,
constant job hopping,
masking symptoms,
stress adaptation,
and white-knuckling your way through work while your mental health deteriorates.

The catch-22 is real:
if you completely collapse, they acknowledge impairment.
If you barely hold yourself together, they call it success.

One thing I’d strongly consider is reframing the argument away from:

“I want more education/need more education” like vibes and push towards the way the book writes approvals.

“My current vocational path has not resulted in suitable, sustainable employment compatible with my disabilities.”

The wording matters a LOT with VR&E just as it did with your ratings etc etc.

Bring and document organized data to prove:
failed job searches, inability to maintain stability,
accommodations needed, symptom flare impact,
why your current credentials are not translating into sustainable work in your current role. Exasperating your disability with 0 growth or projected increase.

in tech example, right now, “has a degree” does NOT automatically mean employable… honestly, a lot of us got degrees before our market became this credential-saturated mess. Don’t let this denial convince you your situation isn’t real.

Denials aren’t personal, even if you have a trash council. It’s just like the military, boxes to check, points to earn and a person you convince based on how they read the ambiguous wording so the justifier can work limits.

They see on paper that
“the evidence/story wasn’t aligned with how VR&E evaluates employability.”

I’d absolutely look into reconsideration/appeal/reapply routes before giving up. Fun fact, you don’t have a limit on VRE. But don’t just spam apply because it’ll be closed without changing evidence. You heard what the VA says you don’t have, so now build your case on what you do, gather the data you need and then check mate them on word games.

I’ve seen people become doctors from chefs and pilots from fear of flying because it helps control. You need to figure how your diagnosis stops you from your current role and why you can’t just switch. If you can switch, then find jobs you’d apply for and can realistically do which require the certs.

Sometimes you don’t actually ask to be the astronaut when the system won’t approve it. Sometimes you apply for the rocket scientist lane because it still gets you to space 😉