The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including degenerative disc disease of the lumbosacral spine and sciatica of both lower extremities, substantially contributed to his death from myocardial infarction. The appellant is also entitled to a TDIU due to her husband's service-connected disabilities.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's service-connected disabilities caused substantial impairment that led to his inability to work and eventually incapacitation, which in turn contributed to the cause of his death.
- Claimed conditions
- Degenerative disc disease of the lumbosacral spine, Sciatica of the right lower extremity, Left ankle limitation of motion
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 80%
- Decision date
- April 15, 2014
- Citation
- 1416630
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 1416630.
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 Veteran's claims for increased ratings for left ankle and lumbosacral spine disabilities were denied as the evidence did not meet the criteria for higher disability ratings under applicable VA rating criteria.
- Granted
The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is rated at a 40 percent evaluation, effective from the date of the May 2013 rating decision.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for TDIU as his service-connected disabilities did not prevent him from obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for service connection for a low back disability and sciatica of both lower extremities, to include as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected foot and knee disabilities, due to pre-decisional duty to assist errors.
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