The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his lumbosacral spine disability and associated radiculopathy, did not result in functional impairment sufficient to prevent him from engaging in substantially gainful employment prior to July 7, 2017.
The deciding factor: Medical evidence does not support the claim that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevented him from obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment during the appeal period.
- Claimed conditions
- degenerative disc disease, degenerative arthritis of the lumbosacral spine, left lower extremity radiculopathy, right lower extremity radiculopathy, tinnitus, coronary artery disease, bilateral hearing loss, hypertension
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 60%
- Decision date
- November 22, 2021
- Citation
- 21069876
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 21069876.
What this means for you
A denial is a starting point, not the end of the road. You can see why this claim fell short — and, if you are still inside the one-year window, the appeal lanes that may remain open to you.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
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- 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 service connection for headaches and increased ratings for left shoulder rotator cuff tear, right shoulder rotator cuff tear, hypertension, and left and right leg restless leg syndrome. The Board denied a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss and an initial rating in excess of 70 percent for posttraumatic stress disorder.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for multiple conditions, including bilateral hearing loss and various musculoskeletal issues, as well as an initial rating in excess of 0 percent for rhinitis. However, the Board granted a 70 percent rating for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
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