The veteran's combined non-service-connected disability rating is 60%, which meets the criteria for a permanent and total disability rating for pension purposes, as she is unable to engage in substantially gainful employment due to her lupus-related conditions.
The deciding factor: The veteran's lupus-related disabilities severely limit her employability by restricting her ability to work outdoors or indoors under fluorescent lighting.
- Claimed conditions
- Discoid Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic Lupus Erythematosus, Fibromyositis, Mood Disorder, Fibromyalgia, Left Ankle Fracture, Hypertension, Fibrocystic Disease, Disability of the Cervical Spine, Disability of the Dorsal Spine, Disability of the Right Wrist
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 60%
- Decision date
- July 31, 2001
- Citation
- 0119810
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. Search VA.gov for the original decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 0119810.
What this means for you
A grant means the Board allowed the benefit or issue identified in this decision. Review the original order: other issues in the same appeal may have a different outcome, and this decision does not predict another claim.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Denied
The Board denied the claim of service connection for hypertension, finding that it did not manifest during service and is not causally related to the Veteran's exposure to herbicides or service.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension, finding that there was no evidence of a nexus between his current condition and active duty service or herbicide exposure.
- Denied
The Board has denied service connection for hypertension and has remanded the issue of an increased rating for skin condition.
- Granted
The Board has restored the Veteran's 10% rating for hypertension effective December 1, 2025 and denied a rating in excess of 10%. The reduction from 10% to noncompensable was not proper.
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