The Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disability was denied by the Board, as his service-connected myositis of the lumbar paravertebral muscles does not preclude him from engaging in substantially gainful employment.
The deciding factor: The VA examination reports did not demonstrate a severe low back disability and the examiner concluded that the Veteran's clinical picture was not consistent with his subjective complaints, allowing him to maintain employment as long as it did not involve heavy lifting.
- Claimed conditions
- myositis of the lumbar paravertebral muscles
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- August 30, 2012
- Citation
- 1230034
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 1230034.
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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate examination in a previous decision. The Veteran needs a new VA examination to assess his back disability and provide a proper rating.
- Denied
The Board has determined that there is no competent medical evidence linking the veteran's current myositis of the lumbar paravertebral muscles and bilateral trapezius muscles to service. Therefore, the claims for service connection are denied.
- Granted
The veteran's lumbosacral strain with myositis of the lumbar paravertebral muscles, L5 radiculopathy, and atrophy is rated as 60 percent disabling.
- Denied
The Board has denied the veteran's claim for an evaluation in excess of 20 percent for myositis of the lumbar paravertebral muscles.
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