The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his musculoskeletal conditions and abdominal injury, render him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's combined disability rating is at least 90 percent from March 5, 2014, due to the severity of his service-connected disabilities which impact his ability to work.
- Claimed conditions
- residuals of a gunshot wound of the abdomen with injury to Muscle Group XIX, spondylosis of the lumbar spine, degenerative changes of the right ankle, status post fracture of the right distal tibia, sciatica/lumbar neuropathy of the right lower extremity, sciatica/lumbar neuropathy of the left lower extremity, exostosis of the right foot, status post exostomy with malunion of the first metatarsal joint, residuals of a gunshot wound of the abdomen, status post exploratory laparotomy and lysis of intra-abdominal adhesions and release of small bowel obstruction, chondromalacia patella of right knee with hypertrophic changes, chondromalacia patella of left knee with hypertrophic changes, metatarsalgia of the left foot
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 90%
- Decision date
- December 17, 2014
- Citation
- 1455484
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 1455484.
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-connected bilateral pes planus, metatarsalgia of both feet, plantar fasciitis of both feet, and neuropathy of both feet have been granted effective July 14, 2014. The Veteran also received a separate rating for hammertoes of the right foot (10%) and left foot (10%), as well as arthritis of the first MTP joint of the right and left foot (10%).
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for sciatic radiculopathy of the right lower extremity, effective April 2025.
- Denied
The Board denied an initial disability rating in excess of 10 percent for metatarsalgia of the left foot, as the maximum schedular evaluation is already assigned.
- Granted
The Board granted a 20 percent rating, but no higher, for the Veteran's left foot metatarsalgia on an extraschedular basis.
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.