The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his anxiety disorder and degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. The Board granted a total rating for compensation purposes based on individual unemployability (TDIU).
The deciding factor: The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, particularly his back and radiculopathy conditions, preclude physical employment and result in cognitive impairments that impact the mental acts required by both physical and sedentary employment.
- Claimed conditions
- Anxiety Disorder, Degenerative Arthritis of the Lumbar Spine, Right Lower Extremity Radiculopathy, Left Lower Extremity Radiculopathy, Dermatitis, Gastritis
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 70%
- Decision date
- December 10, 2018
- Citation
- 18156391
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 18156391.
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.
- Denied
The Veteran's initial ratings for anxiety disorder and TBI were denied as the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating.
- Denied
The Board denied eligibility to attorney fees based on past-due benefits awarded in a March 2024 rating decision because the March 2024 rating decision was an initial decision granting service connection for anxiety disorder.
- Granted
The Veteran's bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy has been granted a 30 percent disability rating since November 29, 2021.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claims for higher ratings for right and left lower extremity radiculopathy are being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination to assess the current severity of his condition, without considering the ameliorative effects of any medication he uses.
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