The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including bilateral knee replacements and lumbar spine degenerative disc disease with degenerative arthritis, have rendered him unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment. The Board finds that the evidence is at least in equipoise that his service-connected conditions prevent him from obtaining and maintaining such employment.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, particularly his bilateral knee replacements and lumbar spine degenerative disc disease with degenerative arthritis, have significantly impacted his ability to perform physical tasks required for most forms of employment. The VA examiners' opinions supported this finding by noting that he is likely able to perform sedentary work.
- Claimed conditions
- bilateral knee replacements, lumbar spine degenerative disc disease with degenerative arthritis, right shoulder rotator cuff tendinitis, hearing loss, tinnitus
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 70%
- Decision date
- November 23, 2021
- Citation
- A21018765
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 A21018765.
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 service connection for asthma and remanded claims for insomnia and sleep apnea. Other conditions were denied.
- Dismissed
The Veteran withdrew the appeals for service connection for bilateral pes planus, obstructive sleep apnea, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
- Partly granted
The Board granted a 50 percent rating for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and denied increased ratings for right shoulder impingement syndrome, hearing loss, painful scar, patellofemoral pain syndromes of the knees, and other conditions.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for service connection for tinnitus to correct a duty to assist error, as the Veteran's lay statements regarding onset and continuity of symptoms were not adequately considered in the previous decision.
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