The Veteran's multiple service-connected conditions, including degenerative disc disease of the lumbosacral spine and hypertension, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's combined rating is 80%, indicating significant functional impairment from his service-connected disabilities, which precludes him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.
- Claimed conditions
- Degenerative disc disease of the lumbosacral spine, Sinusitis, Hypertensive cardiovascular disease with premature ventricular contractions, Tinnitus of the left ear, Sciatic nerve impairment of the left and right lower extremities, Anterior crural nerve impairment of the left and right lower extremities, Bruxism, Hearing loss of the left ear, Diverticulitis, Hemorrhoids, Left inguinal herniorrhaphy, History of prostatitis, History of psoriasis of the elbows, Obturator nerve impairment of the right and left lower extremities, External cutaneous nerve impairment of the left and right thighs, Ilio-inguinal nerve impairment of the left and right lower extremities
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 80%
- Decision date
- February 25, 2019
- Citation
- 19113370
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 1,549 · Granted: 26% (granted or partly granted, in the vetted decisions on this site)
Judge attribution: 2025 complete; earlier years partial.
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 19113370.
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 Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including GAD, MDD, bruxism, migraines/headaches, tinnitus, hip pain, iliotibial band syndrome, and leg stress fractures. The evidence does not support current diagnoses of these conditions during the appeal period.
- Dismissed
The Veteran withdrew his appeal for an increased evaluation of his hemorrhoids, so the case is dismissed.
- Granted
The Veteran's sinusitis is currently rated at a noncompensable evaluation. The Board has granted a 30 percent evaluation for sinusitis as of February 19, 2021, based on the number and duration of incapacitating episodes requiring antibiotic treatment.
- Dismissed
The Board dismissed the Veteran's appeals for higher disability ratings in excess of 20 percent for cervical spine and lumbar spine conditions, left knee condition, right knee condition, and sinusitis. The Veteran was granted service connection for chronic laryngeal papillomatosis.
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