The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including degenerative disc and joint disease of the lumbar spine, cervical spondylosis, right shoulder osteoarthritis, bilateral radiculopathy, and right foot hammertoes, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. The Board has granted a TDIU based on these service-connected disabilities.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's multiple service-connected disabilities, including his lumbar spine conditions and related radiculopathies, combined with the effects of his cervical spine, right foot hammertoes, and right shoulder disabilities, have precluded him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.
- Claimed conditions
- Degenerative disc and joint disease of the lumbar spine, Cervical spondylosis, Right shoulder osteoarthritis, Bilateral radiculopathy, Right foot hammertoes
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 60%
- Decision date
- December 10, 2019
- Citation
- 19192871
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 19192871.
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 remands the claim for a neck disorder to obtain an adequate VA medical opinion addressing the nature and etiology of the Veteran's current neck condition, including whether it is related to her military service.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine, cervical spondylosis, and cervical osteophyte, as well as duodenal ulcers. The remaining claims were denied or remanded.
- Partly granted
The Board granted an initial 20 percent rating for left ankle strain and earlier effective dates of August 24, 1998 for service connection of hammertoes in the feet. Other claims were denied.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for residuals of a back injury of the lumbar spine and bilateral radiculopathy, and awarded a total disability rating based on individual unemployability as of May 9, 2019.
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