The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including COPD and multiple joint and back conditions, have rendered him unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment since June 23, 2013. The Board has granted a TDIU for this period.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevent him from engaging in both physical and sedentary employment due to his back, knee, and headache conditions.
- Claimed conditions
- COPD, left lower extremity lumbar radiculopathy associated with discogenic disease of the thoracolumbar spine, migraine headaches, discogenic disease of the thoracolumbar spine, right lower extremity lumbar radiculopathy associated with discogenic disease of the thoracolumbar spine, left knee joint osteoarthritis associated with discogenic disease of the thoracolumbar spine, right knee joint osteoarthritis associated with discogenic disease of the thoracolumbar spine, left wrist carpal tunnel syndrome, right wrist carpal tunnel syndrome
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 100%
- Decision date
- August 21, 2023
- Citation
- 23046335
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 23046335.
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 remanded the claims for bilateral hearing loss, migraine headaches, and PTSD due to additional development of records and examination.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for COPD, finding that there is no evidence of a nexus between his current respiratory disability and active duty service. The VA examiner concluded that the COPD was more likely due to tobacco use rather than asbestos exposure in service.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU are being remanded due to the addition of new evidence. The Veteran is also asked to complete a TDIU claim form, and his bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome and face numbness need to be evaluated.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the cases for additional development due to incomplete medical records and insufficient opinions regarding the relationship between service, including a stick injury in England, and current left eye disability (including amblyopia and cataracts) as well as migraine headaches.
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