The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to secure and maintain substantially gainful employment since February 14, 2011. The Board finds that the evidence is at least in equipoise on whether he has been able to obtain or maintain such employment.
The deciding factor: The cumulative effect of the Veteran's service-connected disabilities, particularly his mood disorder and lumbar spine disorders, have rendered him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation since February 14, 2011.
- Claimed conditions
- mood disorder, lumbar spine disorder, radiculopathy of the right lower extremity (associated with lumbar spine disorder), cervical spine disorder, left shoulder disorder, chronic bilateral foot pain secondary to pes planus
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 90%
- Decision date
- July 19, 2017
- Citation
- 1728159
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 1728159.
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 Board has granted service connection for a cervical spine disorder, finding that the Veteran's current condition is at least as likely as not related to his active military service.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various hip and lower extremity disorders, including as secondary to a lumbar spine disorder. The case is being returned to the AOJ for further action.
- Granted
The Veteran's service connection claims for lumbosacral strain, asthma, melasma and hydradenitis, hypertension, an acquired psychiatric disorder (claimed as depression, anxiety, and stress), left shoulder disorder, right shoulder disorder, left knee disorder, a left foot disorder, and IBS have been granted. The remaining issues are remanded.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to errors in obtaining relevant medical records and authorization for private treatment providers. The issues include heart disorder, OSA, sinusitis, lumbar spine disorder, and right knee disorder all related to Agent Orange exposure.
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