The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment, leading to a TDIU effective October 31, 2016. He was also granted SMC based on the need for aid and attendance.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's service-connected disabilities (degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, radiculopathy of the right leg, radiculopathy of the left leg, and a right ankle disorder) prevented him from securing or following substantially gainful employment due to his physical limitations.
- Claimed conditions
- degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, radiculopathy of the right leg, radiculopathy of the left leg, right ankle disorder
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 70%
- Decision date
- March 21, 2022
- Citation
- 22015987
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 22015987.
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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for lower back, right hip, and right ankle disorders as secondary to his left knee disorder. The AOJ must obtain VA examinations and provide answers to questions regarding the etiology of these conditions.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for treatment purposes only under Chapter 17 for various conditions, including cervical spine condition, right upper extremity nerve condition, left upper extremity nerve condition, headache condition, right wrist condition, left wrist condition, right elbow condition, left elbow condition, right shoulder condition, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), bilateral pes planus, right ankle disorder, left ankle disorder, and left knee disorder.
- Dismissed
The Veteran withdrew his appeal before the Board could make a decision on his service connection claims.
- Granted
The Veteran's hypertension, left knee patellofemoral syndrome, and right knee patellofemoral syndrome have been granted service connection as secondary to his service-connected disabilities. The lumbar spine disability has also been granted but the effective date is not specified.
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