The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment, as his mobility issues are compensated by the assigned ratings for his disabilities.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not interfere with his ability to sit for prolonged periods of time, which is necessary for substantially gainful employment.
- Claimed conditions
- shell fragment wound, left posterior thigh with neuropathy of the left posterior cutaneous nerve, residuals of shrapnel wound, left ankle, lumbosacral strain with degenerative changes, rheumatoid arthritis (indicated by radiculopathy of the right lower extremity), left ankle, residuals of shrapnel wound, scar, left thigh, scar, lower left ankle, scar, right foot
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- November 13, 2021
- Citation
- 21068813
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. Read the original VA decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 21068813.
What this means for you
A final Board denial may be appealed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, generally within 120 days of the Board mailing date. A Supplemental Claim with new and relevant evidence is a separate option. Another Higher-Level Review of the Board decision is not available. Check your own notice: this historical decision does not set your deadline.
What you can do next
Use your own notice and decision stage. A remanded issue is not a final court-appealable denial. VA review guidance and CAVC filing instructions (U.S. federal; reviewed October 7, 2026).
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Whole decision: Dismissed
The Veteran's appeal for a rating in excess of 20 percent for his left knee disability is dismissed.,Service connection has been granted for lumbosacral strain with degenerative changes and bilateral hip acetabular tears, which are found to be proximately due to his service-connected left knee disability.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the issues of entitlement to increased ratings for lumbosacral strain with degenerative changes, right lower extremity radiculopathy, and left lower extremity radiculopathy due to insufficient evidence.
- Whole decision: Partly granted
The Board granted a 30 percent disability rating for irritable bowel syndrome with gastroesophageal reflux disease (IBS with GERD) but denied other claims.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 20 percent for lumbosacral strain with degenerative changes, as the evidence did not support a higher disability rating.
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