The veteran's service-connected disabilities, including degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine (rated at 40%), hysterectomy (30%), history of avulsion fracture with fibromyalgia (20%), duodenal ulcer (10%), and residual scars from neck skin tag removal (noncompensable), result in a combined rating of 70%. The veteran is granted TDIU due to her service-connected disabilities, which preclude her from obtaining or retaining substantially gainful employment.
The deciding factor: The veteran's service-connected disabilities, including degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine and hysterectomy, are rated at a combined percentage that meets the criteria for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).
- Claimed conditions
- chronic sinusitis, degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, hysterectomy, history of avulsion fracture, T1-8, with fibromyalgia, duodenal ulcer, residual scars of the left and right side of the neck
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 70%
- Decision date
- December 22, 2004
- Citation
- 0433794
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 0433794.
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 has denied service connection for chronic rhinitis, chronic sinusitis, and chronic fatigue syndrome as there is no evidence of a current disability in the record.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has denied service connection for chronic sinusitis and remanded the claim for a lumbar spine disability due to insufficient evidence.
- Dismissed
The appeal seeking readjudication of the previously denied claim for PTSD and multiple other conditions is dismissed due to a procedural defect. The Veteran's authorized representative at the time the appeal was submitted did not have the authority to file the appeal.
- Granted
The Veteran's hypertension, left knee patellofemoral syndrome, and right knee patellofemoral syndrome have been granted service connection as secondary to his service-connected disabilities. The lumbar spine disability has also been granted but the effective date is not specified.
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