The Board granted an effective date of October 14, 2003 for a total rating based on individual unemployability and a 60 percent rating for service-connected back disability.
The deciding factor: Evidence showed that the veteran's service-connected back disability had increased in severity as of December 10, 1996, making it 'factually ascertainable' that he was unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation due to his condition within one year prior to October 3, 1997.
- Claimed conditions
- failed back syndrome, status post laminectomy and failed fusion, lumbar, history of partial sacralization and mechanical instability of the lumbar spine
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 60%
- Decision date
- September 5, 2003
- Citation
- 0322913
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 0322913.
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
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Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
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- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claim for service connection for a back disorder is reopened.,An effective date prior to June 23, 2017, for the grant of service connection for PTSD and DEA is denied.
- Denied
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