The veteran's service-connected disabilities, including Raynaud's disease and rheumatoid arthritis of the cervical spine, right shoulder, and left shoulder, are found to be severe enough to prevent him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.
The deciding factor: The veteran's service-connected disabilities, particularly his Raynaud's disease affecting his hands and feet, and rheumatoid arthritis in both shoulders and neck, have resulted in significant functional impairment that precludes him from performing the physical and mental acts required by employment as a carpenter.
- Claimed conditions
- Raynaud's disease, rheumatoid arthritis of the cervical spine, rheumatoid arthritis of the right shoulder, rheumatoid arthritis of the left shoulder
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 80%
- Decision date
- August 6, 2002
- Citation
- 0209196
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 0209196.
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.
- Granted
The Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea and gastroesophageal reflux disease are found to have onset during service, meeting the criteria for service connection.,Service connection is granted for these conditions. The Veteran's Raynaud's disease and autoimmune disorder are not found to be related to service.
- Dismissed
The Veteran withdrew his appeal for a compensable rating for service-connected Raynaud's disease.
- Granted
The Veteran's service-connected conditions, including lupus and Sjogren's syndrome, were granted. The rating for Raynaud's disease was restored to a lower level, and the effective dates for TDIU and DEA were established.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claims for service connection for jaw and oral trauma, stomach condition (Crohn's disease), idiopathic hypersomnia, restless leg syndrome, peripheral neuropathy, and Raynaud's disease are remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and records.
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