The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment, and the Board has granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's physical limitations (due to degenerative disc disease of the thoracolumbar and cervical spine, bilateral knee osteoarthritis) and mental effects (due to traumatic brain injury and migraines) prevent him from performing the required tasks for any occupation.
- Claimed conditions
- Posttraumatic stress disorder, Persistent depressive disorder with intermittent major depressive episodes, Traumatic brain injury, Degenerative disc disease of the thoracolumbar spine, Left lower extremity radiculopathy, Degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine, Bilateral knee osteoarthritis, Migraines
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 0%
- Decision date
- October 13, 2023
- Citation
- A23028323
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 A23028323.
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.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine, finding that there is no nexus between the current disability and active duty service.
- Granted
The Board has granted effective dates of July 10, 2024 for service connection for PTSD, lumbar strain, and left lower extremity radiculopathy.
- Granted
The Veteran's initial evaluation for tension headaches to include migraines is granted, with a rating of 50 percent effective from May 23, 2023.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to a duty to assist error, specifically regarding whether the Veteran's current conditions are aggravated by his service-connected DDD of the lumbosacral spine. The AOJ is required to obtain new medical opinions addressing this issue.
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