The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment, and his TDIU claim is denied.
The deciding factor: VA examiners found that the Veteran could perform medium work with some limitations but was able to maintain a desk job due to reasonable accommodations. The Veteran had completed his bachelor's degree in media production despite his service-connected disabilities.
- Claimed conditions
- herniated nucleus pulposus, L4-5, bronchial asthma, left lower extremity radiculopathy (sciatic nerve), right lower extremity radiculopathy (sciatic nerve), left lower extremity radiculopathy (femoral nerve), right lower extremity radiculopathy (femoral nerve), residual scar, status post diskectomy
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 50%
- Decision date
- September 1, 2022
- Citation
- 22049870
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 22049870.
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.
- Denied
The Veteran's service-connected bronchial asthma does not preclude him from maintaining substantial gainful employment.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to inadequate VA examinations and a pre-decisional duty to assist error. Additional development is needed for service connection of carpal tunnel syndrome, increased ratings for lower extremity radiculopathies, and obtaining a VA TERA opinion.
- Dismissed
The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating for obstructive sleep apnea and TDIU is dismissed as the issues are already pending in the legacy system, and docketing of the January 2022 NOD was erroneous.
- Granted
The Veteran's lumbosacral strain with IVDS and associated radiculopathies of the left and right lower extremities are granted at a 40 percent rating prior to December 27, 2023, and denied for ratings in excess of this level from that date.
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