The Veteran is unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation due to his service-connected disabilities, particularly his back issues.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevent him from securing and following substantially gainful employment consistent with his education and occupational experience.
- Claimed conditions
- degenerative arthritis lumbosacral spine, L5-S1 lumbar radiculopathy
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- October 19, 2015
- Citation
- 1544469
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 1544469.
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 disabilities have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation since June 3, 2019.,TDIU is granted from June 3, 2019. The appeal for TDIU from October 9, 2018 to June 3, 2019 is remanded.
- Granted
The Veteran's service connection for right lower lumbar radiculopathy, temporary total rating based on the need for convalescence after March 16, 2012, and SMC based on the need for aid and attendance of his spouse have been withdrawn. The Veteran’s degenerative arthritis lumbosacral spine has been granted a 40 percent rating.
- Denied
The Board denied earlier effective dates for the Veteran's service-connected L5-S1 lumbar radiculopathy, right lower extremity, and L3-S1 radiculopathy, left lower extremity, as his disability did not meet the criteria for a 20% rating prior to April 26, 2012.
- Denied
The Board denied ratings in excess of 20 percent for the Veteran's right and left lower extremity radiculopathies.
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.