The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected low back strain with lumbar disc degeneration and left lower radiculopathy disability renders him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, warranting a TDIU.
The deciding factor: The evidence shows significant functional impairment due to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including difficulty in ambulation and work limitations. The Board finds that these factors render the Veteran unemployable.
- Claimed conditions
- Low back strain with lumbar disc degeneration, Left lower radiculopathy
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 60%
- Decision date
- August 28, 2017
- Citation
- 1735603
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 1735603.
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 acquired psychiatric disability, including persistent depressive disorder and generalized anxiety disorder, is found to have begun during service. Effective February 4, 2020, a 20% rating for right lower extremity radiculopathy is granted. The effective date of the separate 20% rating for left lower radiculopathy remains January 14, 2021.
- Granted
The Veteran's back disability, diagnosed as degenerative arthritis of the spine, degenerative disc disease, spondylosis of the spine, and intervertebral disc syndrome (IVDS), is granted.,The Veteran's left upper neuropathy is related to his in-service exposure to herbicide agents and is granted.,The Veteran's right upper neuropathy is related to his in-service exposure to herbicide agents and is granted.,The Veteran's right lower radiculopathy, causally due to his service-connected back disability, is granted.,The Veteran's left lower radiculopathy, causally due to his service-connected back disability, is granted.
- Denied
The Veteran's TMJ, back disability, right lower radiculopathy, and left lower radiculopathy claims have been denied as the evidence does not support a higher rating than currently assigned.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for Lyme disease and remanded all associated issues due to insufficient evidence regarding the relationship between his current disabilities and service.
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