The veteran's disabilities, including chronic left shoulder degenerative joint disease, degenerative joint disease of the low back and hips, benign prostatic hypertrophy, bilateral dupuytrens contractures, and depression or dysthymia, are considered to be permanent and result in his being unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. As such, he is granted a permanent and total disability evaluation for pension purposes.
The deciding factor: The veteran's disabilities have resulted in persistent pain that has prevented him from performing the duties of his last job as a cable installer, which requires physical labor. His medical conditions do not show any improvement with treatment or changes to his work schedule.
- Claimed conditions
- chronic left shoulder degenerative joint disease, degenerative joint disease of the low back and hips, benign prostatic hypertrophy, bilateral dupuytrens contractures, depression or dysthymia
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 50%
- Decision date
- February 6, 2008
- Citation
- 0804221
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 0804221.
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 service connection claims for various conditions, including adjustment disorder, benign skin lesions, actinic keratosis, poikiloderma, porokeratosis, Parkinson's disease, benign prostatic hypertrophy, hypertension, increased urinary frequency, diverticulosis, duodenal ulcer, and bilateral cataracts are all granted due to exposure to herbicide agents, mustard gas, and ionizing radiation during service.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the case due to conflicting evidence regarding the nature of the Veteran's prostate condition and a need for further examination.
- Granted
The Veteran is granted SMC at the enhanced R-1 rate due to his need for regular assistance with activities of daily living and a total disability rating, including service-connected conditions such as Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and PTSD.
- Denied
The Veteran's claim for benign prostatic hypertrophy is denied as there is no evidence of a nexus between the condition and his military service, including exposure to toxic environmental toxins.,The Veteran's claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder is also denied. The Board found that the claimed condition was not incurred in or caused by service, and does not meet the secondary service connection criteria.
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