The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for a TDIU as they allow him to engage in sedentary work that does not require significant physical exertion or prolonged standing.
The deciding factor: The Veteran has multiple service-connected conditions, but his combined rating is less than 70% and he can perform sedentary work with reasonable accommodations.
- Claimed conditions
- lumbosacral strain with degenerative disc disease, right lower extremity sciatic nerve branch associated with lumbosacral strain with degenerative disc disease, sciatic radiculopathy of the left lower extremity
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 60%
- Decision date
- November 28, 2023
- Citation
- A23033600
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 A23033600.
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.
- Dismissed
The appeal of the proposed reduction in disability rating for lumbar decompression and fusion with lumbosacral strain is dismissed. The Veteran's initial higher disability ratings for sciatic radiculopathy of both lower extremities are denied, but he is granted a TDIU.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for lumbosacral strain with degenerative disc disease and right lower extremity radiculopathy affecting the sciatic nerve, effective January 12, 2024. Attorney fees are eligible based on past due benefits awarded in this decision.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for lumbosacral strain with degenerative disc disease, headaches, an acquired psychiatric disorder (other specified trauma and stressor related disorder and PTSD), and Parkinson's disease. The conditions are presumed to be due to exposure in service.,Service connection is established for all four claimed conditions.
- Denied
The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied due to lack of evidence supporting the conditions prior to August 4, 2021.
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