The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, even one that involves sedentary type work.
The deciding factor: The Veteran’s service-connected back condition significantly impacts his ability to perform physical labor and limits his ability to walk, stand, and bend for prolonged periods of time, preventing him from engaging in occupations requiring standing and bending for long periods. His right-hand disability also severely diminishes his capacity for sedentary work.
- Claimed conditions
- Right Hand Injury, Degenerative Arthritis of the Spine, Bilateral Lower Extremity Radiculopathy
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 70%
- Decision date
- September 24, 2019
- Citation
- 19174175
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 19174175.
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.
- Granted
The Veteran's service-connected degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine, lumbar disc disease, bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy, bilateral knee strains, residuals of a left ankle concussion, and bilateral pes cavus are found to be related to his obstructive sleep apnea. His claim for restoration of a 30 percent evaluation for degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine is granted.
- Denied
The Board denied the appellant's eligibility for direct payment of fees from past due benefits awarded in a July 2024 rating decision granting an increased PTSD rating and TDIU.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased rating and service connection due to alleged errors in the May 2021 VA examination, including failure to conduct range of motion testing. The AOJ is instructed to obtain an addendum VA medical opinion addressing the severity of the Veteran's back disability throughout the appeal period and a VA examination regarding bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy.
- Granted
The Veteran's PTSD due to MST and low back pain are granted. The case is remanded for further examination.
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