The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevented him from securing or maintaining substantially gainful employment prior to September 16, 2020.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's physical limitations due to his service-connected disabilities made it impossible for him to perform work as a landscaper and he was unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation.
- Claimed conditions
- Other specified trauma and stressor related disorder with subthreshold PTSD, Cocaine and alcohol disorder, Sleep apnea associated with other specified trauma and stressor related disorder with subthreshold PTSD and cocaine and alcohol disorder, Right shoulder degenerative joint disease (DJT), Status post rotator cuff repair and DJT, left shoulder, Lumbar stenosis L3-S1 with degenerative disc disease, Radiculopathy, left lower extremity associated with lumbar stenosis L3-S1 with degenerative disc disease, Temporomandibular joint pain, Surgical scars, right shoulder associated with right shoulder degenerative joint disease to include s/p arthroscopic surgery, Migraine headaches associated with lumbar stenosis L3-S1 with degenerative disc disease, Surgical scars, left shoulder associated with status post rotator cuff repair and degenerative joint disease, left shoulder
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 70%
- Decision date
- September 20, 2023
- Citation
- 23051924
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 23051924.
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 the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected lumbar myositis, psychoneurosis and conversion hysteria, residuals of shrapnel wounds of the left thigh and pelvis with retained foreign bodies and scars, and residuals of shell fragment wounds of the right thigh and left leg. The veteran was also denied entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for his service-connected coronary artery disease, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating based on the severity of his condition.
- Denied
The Veteran's service-connected musculoligamentous strain, right knee, is currently rated at 10 percent and the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted.
- Granted
The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD is granted as the evidence shows a current diagnosis of PTSD, an in-service stressor, and a medical link between the two.
Free starter guide for your own claim
Reading this because you were denied or under-rated? Get the plain-English next steps — your appeal options, the deadline that protects you, and how appeals like yours turn out. One email, no spam.
We will only use this to send the guide. No spam, unsubscribe any time. We never sell your information.
We are not the VA. Veterans’ Rights is an independent resource built for veterans. We are not the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, not part of the government, and not endorsed by any government agency.
This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.