The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unemployable from performing all forms of substantially gainful employment that are consistent with his education and occupational experience.,The Veteran is entitled to an initial rating in excess of 40 percent for lumbar spine degenerative joint disease and degenerative disc disease, and an initial rating in excess of 30 percent for migraine headaches.,Service connection has been granted for chronic fatigue syndrome as secondary to service-connected sarcoidosis. The Veteran's skin disorder is also service connected as secondary to service-connected sarcoidosis. Service connection has not been established for a respiratory disorder or sleep disturbance.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD with depressive disorder, lumbar spine disability, migraine headaches, and sarcoidosis, render him unemployable due to the severity of his symptoms.,The Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine disability is rated at 40 percent disabling, and his service-connected migraine headaches are rated at 30 percent disabling. These ratings meet the criteria for a TDIU rating.,Service connection has been granted for chronic fatigue syndrome as secondary to service-connected sarcoidosis.
- Claimed conditions
- PTSD with depressive disorder related to the service-connected lumbar spine disorder and with alcohol dependence related to pain from service-connected disabilities, lumbar spine degenerative joint disease and degenerative disc disease, migraine headaches, irritable bowel syndrome with a history of diverticulitis, sarcoidosis, painful scar to the left forearm, chronic fatigue syndrome, bilateral osteoarthritis of the first metatarsophalangeal joints, bilateral metatarsalgia, bilateral degenerative joint disease of the knees, bilateral degenerative joint disease of the ankles, right wrist tendonitis, cubital tunnel syndrome, right elbow epicondylitis, fibromyalgia
- How they argued it
- Not specified
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- August 15, 2014
- Citation
- 1436552
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 1436552.
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 claim for service connection for migraines was reopened due to new evidence. Service connection is granted for painful scars, but the rating assigned remains at 10 percent. The claims for fibromyalgia and bilateral shoulder disability are denied.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral hearing loss, migraine headaches, and PTSD due to additional development of records and examination.
- Partly granted
The Board has not made a final determination on the claims of service connection for inguinal hernia, PTSD, joint pain, fibromyalgia, left knee disability, right knee disability, tinnitus, chronic fatigue syndrome, respiratory disability, sleep disorder, IBS, and headaches. The claims are remanded to obtain additional evidence and determine if these conditions are related to service.
- Denied
The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for hypertension, fibromyalgia, and vertigo. The decision found that there was no evidence linking these conditions to his military service or a service-connected disability.
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