The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his thoracolumbar spine strain, left knee degenerative joint disease, and right foot arthritis, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation since August 19, 2015.
The deciding factor: The combined effects of the Veteran's service-connected disabilities, particularly his back pain and foot conditions, have made it impossible for him to perform the physical tasks required by most jobs.
- Claimed conditions
- thoracolumbar spine strain, left lower extremity thoracolumbar spine radiculopathy, right lower extremity thoracolumbar spine radiculopathy, left knee degenerative joint disease, right foot arthritis first metatarsophalangeal joint with small plantar calcaneal spur, left hip arthritis
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- January 31, 2018
- Citation
- 1806206
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. Read the original VA decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 1806206.
What this means for you
A grant means the Board allowed the benefit or issue identified in this decision. Review the original order: other issues in the same appeal may have a different outcome, and this decision does not predict another claim.
What you can do next
Use your own notice and decision stage. A remanded issue is not a final court-appealable denial. VA review guidance and CAVC filing instructions (U.S. federal; reviewed October 7, 2026).
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for a VA examination to assess the severity of his left knee disability, including without considering the ameliorative effects of medication.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Board has granted the Appellant's request to have his military service characterized as honorable, and has also granted service connection for various conditions including unspecified trauma and stressor related disorder with attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder, right ear hearing loss, tinnitus, scars of the left second finger and thumb, thoracolumbar spine strain, bilateral knee strains, and a right foot disorder.
- Whole decision: Dismissed
The Board has dismissed the appeals for left hip arthritis, right hip arthritis, type II diabetes, right lower extremity neuropathy, left lower extremity neuropathy, and sleep apnea as they have become service-connected in other rating decisions.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and dismissed all other appeals related to various joint conditions.
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