The Veteran meets the schedular requirements for a total disability evaluation based on individual unemployability since October 15, 2014 due to his service-connected conditions. The Board has granted this claim effective from that date.
The deciding factor: The evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether the Veteran's service-connected disabilities are of sufficient severity so as to preclude all forms of substantially gainful employment since October 15, 2014.
- Claimed conditions
- lumbosacral degenerative disc disease, rheumatoid arthritis (presumptive via PACT Act), right lower extremity radiculopathy (femoral nerve), left lower extremity radiculopathy (femoral nerve)
- How they argued it
- Not specified
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 80%
- Decision date
- November 9, 2017
- Citation
- 1751509
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 1751509.
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 Veteran's appeal is remanded due to inadequate VA examinations and a pre-decisional duty to assist error. Additional development is needed for service connection of carpal tunnel syndrome, increased ratings for lower extremity radiculopathies, and obtaining a VA TERA opinion.
- Denied
The Board found the reduction in disability evaluation from 40% to 20% was improper and void ab initio due to inadequate examination for reduction.
- Dismissed
The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and earlier effective dates for his left and right lower extremity radiculopathy, as well as TDIU, have been dismissed due to the appellant withdrawing the appeal.
- Granted
An effective date of December 4, 2017, but no earlier, is granted for the grant of service connection for left lower extremity radiculopathy (femoral nerve) and left lower extremity radiculopathy (sciatic nerve). An initial evaluation higher than 20 percent for these conditions is denied.,An effective date of December 4, 2017, but no earlier, is granted for the grant of special monthly compensation (SMC) based on housebound criteria. An earlier effective date for service connection for low back disability is denied.
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