The Veteran's service-connected disabilities caused an inability to secure or follow substantially gainful employment prior to May 11, 2017. The Board found that the evidence showed he was unable to work due to his lumbar spine degenerative arthritis and other conditions.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine degenerative arthritis hindered his ability to perform the physical requirements of law enforcement work, which required prolonged walking and standing.
- Claimed conditions
- lumbar spine degenerative arthritis, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, sciatic nerve involvement of the right lower extremity
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- July 14, 2023
- Citation
- 23039028
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 23039028.
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.
- Dismissed
The Veteran's appeal for service connection of bilateral hearing loss and a ruptured right ear drum was dismissed due to the death of the Veteran.
- Denied
The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was noted upon entry into active duty service and did not increase in severity during service. Therefore, it denied his claim for service connection.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for hearing loss, tinnitus, and an acquired psychiatric disorder due to incomplete medical records and need for further examination.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus, arthritis, and memory loss. The decision found no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.
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