The Board has determined that the Veteran is unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation due to his service-connected disabilities, including thoracolumbar spine strain with sprain and spondylosis, left lower extremity sensory neuropathy of the sciatic nerve, PTSD, hypertension, right lower extremity radiculopathy, and left hand burn scar. The Board granted TDIU on both a schedular and an extraschedular basis.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation due to physical limitations caused by his back and psychiatric conditions.
- Claimed conditions
- Thoracolumbar spine strain with sprain and spondylosis, Left lower extremity sensory neuropathy of the sciatic nerve, PTSD, Hypertension, Right lower extremity radiculopathy, Left hand burn scar
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- April 20, 2021
- Citation
- 21023070
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 21023070.
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 Board of Veterans' Appeals has granted service connection for PTSD and Mood Disorders, both presumed conditions under the PACT Act.
- Partly granted
The Board has not made a final determination on the claims of service connection for inguinal hernia, PTSD, joint pain, fibromyalgia, left knee disability, right knee disability, tinnitus, chronic fatigue syndrome, respiratory disability, sleep disorder, IBS, and headaches. The claims are remanded to obtain additional evidence and determine if these conditions are related to service.
- Denied
The Board denied the claim of service connection for hypertension, finding that it did not manifest during service and is not causally related to the Veteran's exposure to herbicides or service.
- Granted
The Veteran's claim of service connection for PTSD was granted with an initial evaluation of 50 percent, effective September 24, 2007. The appeal regarding the heart condition and sleep disorder is denied. The Veteran's hearing loss prior to August 24, 2015, warrants a 20 percent rating.
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