The veteran's service-connected disabilities, including diabetes mellitus, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and status post L4-5 diskectomy for herniated nucleus pulposus, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. The Board has determined that the criteria for a total rating based on individual unemployability are met.
The deciding factor: The veteran's service-connected disabilities, including diabetes mellitus, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and status post L4-5 diskectomy for herniated nucleus pulposus, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.
- Claimed conditions
- diabetes mellitus, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, status post L4-5 diskectomy for herniated nucleus pulposus, bilateral hearing loss
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 70%
- Decision date
- November 21, 2001
- Citation
- 0126651
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 0126651.
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.
- Dismissed
The Veteran withdrew the appeals for service connection for bilateral pes planus, obstructive sleep apnea, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for multiple conditions, including bilateral hearing loss and various musculoskeletal issues, as well as an initial rating in excess of 0 percent for rhinitis. However, the Board granted a 70 percent rating for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
- Denied
The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection for a bilateral hearing loss disability, as the evidence did not support higher ratings or service connection.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for service connection for hypertension and diabetes mellitus to obtain further medical opinions regarding their potential relationship to toxic exposures during active service.
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