The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including degenerative disk disease of the lumbar spine and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy, have not prevented him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation prior to March 13, 2017.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not render him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation due to their combined effect on his ability to work.
- Claimed conditions
- Degenerative disk disease of the lumbar spine, Lumbar radiculopathy of the left and right lower extremities, Postoperative pilonidal cyst, Surgical scars
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- March 1, 2022
- Citation
- 22011772
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 22011772.
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: Granted
The Veteran's degenerative disk disease of the lumbar spine is currently rated at 20 percent, and the Board has granted a higher rating to 40 percent.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for a rating in excess of 20 percent for lumbar spine disability to schedule a VA examination to determine if the Veteran has intervertebral disc syndrome (IVDS) and, if so, whether he has required bed rest prescribed by a physician during any 12-month period.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's service-connected disabilities are of such severity that they prevent him from securing or following substantially gainful employment, and a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) is granted.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claims for an earlier effective date for dependency benefits and a higher rating for PTSD, stating that no exceptions to the legal provisions governing effective dates apply.
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