The veteran's service-connected disabilities, including left knee and hip pain, lumbar spine degenerative changes, and shortening of the left leg, have rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment. The Board finds that he meets the criteria for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability.
The deciding factor: The veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his knee and hip pain, lumbar spine degenerative changes, and shortening of the left leg, have rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.
- Claimed conditions
- status post left patella resection and femur fracture with retained pin and rod with degenerative changes, chronic lumbosacral strain and lumbar spine degenerative disc disease, shortening of the left leg, residual scars of the left thigh and knee
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 40%
- Decision date
- August 3, 2001
- Citation
- 0120029
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 0120029.
What this means for you
A grant means the Board agreed the veteran was entitled to the benefit. Decisions like this show the kind of evidence and arguments that tend to succeed for claims like it.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for left leg shortening based on measurements that did not meet the criteria for a 10 percent rating.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case due to concerns about the Veteran's leg measurements and functional impairment, requiring a new medical examination and opinion.
- Dismissed
The Veteran's appeal for service connection for shortening of the left leg has been dismissed.,Herpes zoster was also dismissed from appeal, with a rating assigned but not higher than 10 percent.,Service connection for PTSD and memory loss were both denied. The Veteran’s psychiatric disorder including PTSD claim is pending as it involves an undiagnosed illness or medically unexplained chronic multisymptom illness (MUCMI).,The appeal regarding service connection for memory loss was dismissed.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for chronic left ankle strain and shortening of the left leg are being remanded due to a need for additional examination.
Free starter guide for your own claim
Reading this because you were denied or under-rated? Get the plain-English next steps — your appeal options, the deadline that protects you, and how appeals like yours turn out. One email, no spam.
We will only use this to send the guide. No spam, unsubscribe any time. We never sell your information.
We are not the VA. Veterans’ Rights is an independent resource built for veterans. We are not the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, not part of the government, and not endorsed by any government agency.
This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.