The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful occupation throughout the period on appeal, and he is granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) on an extraschedular basis.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's service-connected disabilities caused significant physical limitations that prevented him from performing his prior employment as a janitor, which required physical labor, concentration, and attendance at normal work hours. The medical evidence supported these functional restrictions.
- Claimed conditions
- left lower extremity sciatica, intervertebral disc syndrome of the lumbar spine
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 50%
- Decision date
- March 31, 2023
- Citation
- 23019997
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 23019997.
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 granted service connection for lumbar strain and lumbar intervertebral disc syndrome with left sciatica. The right lower extremity sciatica claim is remanded due to a duty-to-assist error.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for bilateral lower extremity sciatica, secondary to the Veteran's service-connected lumbosacral strain. The decision is based on a finding of reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.
- Dismissed
The Veteran withdrew his appeals regarding service connection for left and right lower extremity sciatica, leading to the dismissal of these claims.
- Dismissed
The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection and rating issues due to the Veteran's death.
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