The Board granted an earlier effective date of February 18, 2011 for the award of a TDIU based on the Veteran's service-connected disabilities. The Veteran's combined disability rating was at least 70% from that date.
The deciding factor: The effective date was set to the earliest possible date due to the underlying claim for service connection and subsequent grant of TDIU.
- Claimed conditions
- diffuse ankylosis of the thoracolumbar spine with sclerosis of both sacroiliac joints, rheumatoid arthritis of the right knee, diffuse arthritis of the right and left feet
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 40%
- Decision date
- April 11, 2016
- Citation
- 1614589
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 1614589.
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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for service connection for rheumatoid arthritis of various body parts due to in-service exposure to hazardous materials, as an addendum opinion is needed.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence regarding whether his lumbar condition is a congenital defect or if it was aggravated by military service. The VA examiner will need to provide opinions on these matters.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence regarding whether his lumbar condition is a congenital defect or disease, and if so, whether it was aggravated by military service. The Veteran also seeks service connection for radiculopathy of both lower extremities.
- Denied
The Veteran's appeal is denied for evaluations in excess of 10 percent for rheumatoid arthritis of the left (minor) elbow, prior to July 24, 2020; and for rheumatoid arthritis of the right (major) elbow, since July 24, 2020. The appeal is also denied for evaluations in excess of 10 percent for rheumatoid arthritis of other joints including left shoulder, wrist, foot, knee, ankle, hip.
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