The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevented him from securing and following any substantially gainful occupation prior to October 22, 2020.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's service-connected disabilities (low back strain with degenerative changes, right knee, left knee, ganglion, right ankle, and neuralgia paresthetica, left thigh) prevented him from working due to pain that made prolonged sitting, standing, or walking difficult.
- Claimed conditions
- Low back strain with degenerative changes, Degenerative joint disease, right knee, Degenerative joint disease, left knee, Ganglion, right ankle (residual of twisting injury), Neuralgia paresthetica, left thigh
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 70%
- Decision date
- November 28, 2023
- Citation
- 23062731
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 23062731.
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 appeal of the proposed reduction from 30 percent to 10 percent for GERD is dismissed. The appeal of a disability rating in excess of 20 percent for low back strain with degenerative changes is denied.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has dismissed the appeals for increased rating and service connection for hyperlipidemia. The appeal for service connection of erectile dysfunction is remanded due to duty-to-assist errors.
- Granted
The Board granted increased 20 percent disability ratings for the back, right knee, and left knee disabilities but denied a higher rating for bilateral pes planus and a compensable rating for the right anterior knee scar.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for degenerative joint disease of the left and right knees, finding no evidence of in-service incurrence or aggravation and noting that the conditions began more than 10 years after service.
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