The veteran's degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine is currently rated at 40% and his residuals of a right (major) shoulder dislocation are rated at 20%. The Board has granted these ratings, finding that they accurately reflect the severity of the disabilities. Additionally, the Board found that the veteran's service-connected disabilities preclude all forms of substantially gainful employment, warranting a TDIU rating.
The deciding factor: The veteran's degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine is manifested by incapacitating episodes requiring bed rest and treatment by a physician having a total duration of at least six weeks in the past year. His residuals of right (major) shoulder dislocation do not meet criteria for higher ratings based on limitation of motion or ankylosis. The Board found that his service-connected disabilities preclude all forms of substantially gainful employment, warranting a TDIU rating.
- Claimed conditions
- Degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, Residuals of right (major) shoulder dislocation
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 40%
- Decision date
- March 16, 2006
- Citation
- 0607551
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 2,050 · Granted: 23% (granted or partly granted, in the vetted decisions on this site)
Judge attribution: 2025 complete; earlier years partial.
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 0607551.
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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for his lumbar spine and right hip disabilities due to a duty to assist error. The effective date for DEA benefits is granted as May 1, 2014.
- Denied
The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date and higher initial rating for his back disability is denied. The effective date remains March 29, 2021, as the earliest date of claim. An initial rating in excess of 20 percent for the back disability from March 29, 2021, is also denied.
- Granted
The Veteran's low back disability and right leg radiculopathy are granted service connection, but left leg radiculopathy is denied.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for TDIU, finding that his service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from securing or maintaining substantially gainful employment.
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