The Veteran's thoracolumbar spine disability was rated at 20 percent since July 24, 2009. The Board found that the evidence supported a grant of TDIU benefits effective from October 3, 2013.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's service-connected DJD of the thoracolumbar spine resulted in functional impairment consistent with a 20 percent rating under the General Formula for Diseases and Injuries of the Spine. The Board granted TDIU benefits based on his inability to secure or follow gainful employment due to his disabilities.
- Claimed conditions
- Degenerative Joint Disease (DJD) of the thoracic and lumbar spine
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- October 16, 2015
- Citation
- 1544320
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 1544320.
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 back disability (DJD of the thoracic and lumbar spine) and obstructive sleep apnea have been granted service connection. The back condition is presumed to be due to continuous symptoms since service, while the sleep apnea was first manifested during service.
- Granted
The claim for service connection of back disability is granted. The claims for increased ratings for left knee and reactive airway disease are remanded.
- Partly granted
The Veteran's initial ratings for various service-connected conditions were granted or denied. The appeal is mixed, with some issues having their initial ratings granted and others not.
- Denied
The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected lumbar myositis, psychoneurosis and conversion hysteria, residuals of shrapnel wounds of the left thigh and pelvis with retained foreign bodies and scars, and residuals of shell fragment wounds of the right thigh and left leg. The veteran was also denied entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.
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