The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including degenerative spondylosis of L5 and rheumatoid arthritis (presumed due to hepatitis C), rendered him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation prior to August 25, 2012. His TDIU claim is granted on an extraschedular basis from May 4, 2009.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including degenerative spondylosis of L5 and rheumatoid arthritis (presumed due to hepatitis C), significantly limited his ability to work, preventing him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation prior to August 25, 2012.
- Claimed conditions
- degenerative spondylosis of L5, spondylolisthesis of L5-S1, rheumatoid arthritis (presumed due to hepatitis C), residuals of injury to the left shoulder
- How they argued it
- Reopened with new and material evidence
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 60%
- Decision date
- June 11, 2019
- Citation
- 19144895
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 2,480 · 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 19144895.
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 Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for back and neck disabilities due to Gulf War Illness, as they are related to medically unexplained chronic multisymptom illnesses.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination to determine the relationship between his service-connected lumbar spine disability and any current knee disabilities. The earlier effective date claim will be adjudicated separately.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claims are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining Social Security Administration (SSA) records and updated VA treatment records.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a VA examination and further development of the record.
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.