The Veteran's service-connected back disability, along with other disabilities, has rendered him unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment prior to May 18, 2011.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's service-connected thoracolumbar strain with degenerative disc disease and joint disease significantly impacted his ability to work due to pain and functional impairment.
- Claimed conditions
- thoracolumbar strain with degenerative disc disease and degenerative joint disease, tendonitis of the right ankle, tendonitis of the left ankle, residuals of injury to the left fourth finger, residuals of fracture of the right little finger, hyperextension injury of the dorsum of the right foot
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 60%
- Decision date
- April 19, 2021
- Citation
- 21022896
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 21022896.
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.
- Denied
The Board denied an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for the Veteran's service-connected left ankle disability, finding that the evidence supported a maximum 10 percent rating.
- Dismissed
The appeal of the issues related to increased ratings for various conditions, including tendonitis of the right ankle, osteoarthritis of the left ankle, lumbosacral strain, and radiculopathy in both lower extremities, was dismissed due to a procedural defect.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for service connection for varicocele and rating tendonitis of the right ankle in excess of 10 percent to obtain additional evidence.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for service connection for tendonitis of the left ankle and cellulitis of the left lower extremity to obtain additional medical evidence.
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