The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD and degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, prevented him from engaging in heavy physical or strenuous manual labor but did not prevent him from performing sedentary work.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, particularly his lumbar spine disability, precluded him from performing physically demanding jobs. However, they did not prevent him from engaging in sedentary employment.
- Claimed conditions
- Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Degenerative Disc Disease, Lumbar Spine with Intervertebral Disc Syndrome, Left Lower Extremity Radiculopathy, Sciatic Nerve, Left Lower Extremity Radiculopathy, Femoral Nerve, Right Lower Extremity Radiculopathy, Sciatic Nerve, Right Lower Extremity Radiculopathy, Femoral Nerve, Painful Scar, Residual to Pilonidal Cyst Removal Surgery, Residuals of Tibial Fibular Ligament Tear, Right Ankle, Right Knee Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome, Blepharitis
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 100%
- Decision date
- January 28, 2015
- Citation
- 1503995
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 1503995.
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.
- Denied
The Board denied the veteran's claims for a higher rating for PTSD and dismissed his appeals regarding increased ratings for tinnitus and a right hand disability due to lack of timely filing of Notice of Disagreement.
- Granted
The Veteran's PTSD is rated at a 70 percent level, reflecting significant occupational and social impairment.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claims for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, and for a right knee condition are remanded due to duty-to-assist errors. The AOJ must attempt to verify the claimed stressor events and provide a VA examination.
- Dismissed
The Veteran's appeal of the denial for service connection for PTSD has been dismissed because the issue was already under review through Higher-Level Review.
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