The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have precluded him from obtaining and maintaining substantial and gainful employment due to his back condition, which limits his ability to lift, carry, stand, sit, walk, and perform physical tasks.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's service-connected degenerative arthritis of the spine has rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.
- Claimed conditions
- degenerative arthritis of spine with intervertebral disc syndrome, right shoulder strain, impingement syndrome, rotator cuff tear and acromioclavicular joint osteoarthritis, cervical strain
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 70%
- Decision date
- November 5, 2019
- Citation
- 19183600
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.
- Partly granted
The Board granted higher ratings for the Veteran's service-connected carpal tunnel syndrome and cubital tunnel syndrome of both upper extremities, but remanded claims for service connection for sinusitis, calcified lymph nodes on the lungs, and cervical strain.
- Dismissed
The appeals for restoration of ratings and for a higher disability rating were dismissed as the April 2025 rating decision did not make final decisions on these issues.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including bilateral plantar fasciitis, chronic pain syndrome, sciatic radicular pain of both legs, traumatic brain injury (TBI), shin splints of both legs, thoracic spondylosis, right shoulder strain, right wrist strain, acne, and allergic rhinitis.
- Denied
The Board denied the veteran's claims for an earlier effective date for service connection for cervical strain, left upper extremity radiculopathy, and right upper extremity radiculopathy. The claim for an earlier effective date for a left shoulder disability was dismissed.
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