The Veteran's service-connected disabilities (right anterior tibial compartment syndrome, left anterior tibial compartment syndrome, degenerative joint disease of the left ankle, left interior tibial nerve, and left posterior tibial nerve) preclude him from securing or maintaining a substantially gainful occupation prior to December 27, 2017. The Board finds that the criteria for a TDIU on an extraschedular basis prior to this date have been met.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, alone or in combination, preclude him from securing or maintaining a substantially gainful occupation prior to December 27, 2017.
- Claimed conditions
- right anterior tibial compartment syndrome, left anterior tibial compartment syndrome, degenerative joint disease of the left ankle, left interior tibial nerve, left posterior tibial nerve
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 50%
- Decision date
- March 21, 2019
- Citation
- 19120873
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 2,017 · Granted: 36% (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 19120873.
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 appeal for a higher level of SMC was denied as he does not meet the criteria for any additional levels of SMC based on his service-connected disabilities.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for multiple disabilities, including various musculoskeletal conditions and mental health disorders.
- Partly granted
The Board denied increased ratings for generalized seizure disorder, chronic sinusitis, deviated nasal septum, and scars, but granted increased ratings of 20 percent for degenerative joint disease in the left and right ankles.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his lumbar spondylosis, left and right lower extremity radiculopathies, degenerative joint disease of the ankles, and claims for service connection for knee and hip disabilities. The remaining issues are not addressed in this decision.
Free starter guide for your own claim
Reading this because you were denied or under-rated? Get the plain-English next steps — your appeal options, the deadline that protects you, and how appeals like yours turn out. One email, no spam.
We will only use this to send the guide. No spam, unsubscribe any time. We never sell your information.
We are not the VA. Veterans’ Rights is an independent resource built for veterans. We are not the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, not part of the government, and not endorsed by any government agency.
This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.