The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his low back disorder and headaches, do not prevent him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.
The deciding factor: VA examinations found that the Veteran's service-connected conditions would generally preclude employment requiring physical exertion but would not preclude more sedentary vocations.
- Claimed conditions
- Degenerative disc disease and spondyloarthritis of the lumbar spine with a herniated disc at L4-L5, Residuals of a cerebral concussion, Residuals of a fractured nose
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 70%
- Decision date
- May 29, 2012
- Citation
- 1218888
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 1218888.
What this means for you
A denial is a starting point, not the end of the road. You can see why this claim fell short — and, if you are still inside the one-year window, the appeal lanes that may remain open to you.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Partly granted
The Veteran was granted a 70 percent disability rating for his service-connected PTSD and major depressive disorder from January 24, 2013 to September 6, 2016, but an increased rating of more than 100 percent is not available as a matter of law.
- Granted
The Veteran's service-connected PTSD is found to have contributed substantially or materially to her cause of death, a gastrointestinal bleed due to liver failure caused by alcohol abuse. The Board grants the claim for service connection for the cause of death.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for low back disability, residuals of a fractured nose, and recurrent angio lipomas. The evidence did not support the Veteran's claims that these conditions began during his active service or were related to in-service events.
- Partly granted
The Veteran's service-connected residuals of a nasal fracture are currently rated at 50 percent, effective August 22, 2000. The Board finds that the evidence does not support an increase in his disability rating beyond this level.
Free starter guide for your own claim
Reading this because you were denied or under-rated? Get the plain-English next steps — your appeal options, the deadline that protects you, and how appeals like yours turn out. One email, no spam.
We will only use this to send the guide. No spam, unsubscribe any time. We never sell your information.
We are not the VA. Veterans’ Rights is an independent resource built for veterans. We are not the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, not part of the government, and not endorsed by any government agency.
This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.