The Veteran's lumbar spine disability alone rendered him unable to sustain substantially gainful employment from August 10, 2018 and he also had additional service-connected disabilities independently ratable at 60 percent or more. The Board granted special monthly compensation based on aid and attendance/housebound effective August 10, 2018.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's lumbar spine disability alone prevented him from securing and following substantially gainful employment due to constant back pain and associated radiculopathy, limiting his ability to perform physical labor and sedentary tasks.
- Claimed conditions
- Persistent depressive disorder, Lumbar spine degenerative disc disease (DDD), Atopic Dermatitis, Right lower extremity radiculopathy associated with lumbosacral spine, degenerative arthritis with intervertebral disc syndrome (IVDS) and spinal stenosis, Left lower extremity radiculopathy associated with lumbosacral spine, Lumbar spine scar
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 100%
- Decision date
- August 21, 2024
- Citation
- A24048680
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 A24048680.
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.
- Granted
The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, including persistent depressive disorder and generalized anxiety disorder, is found to have begun during service. Effective February 4, 2020, a 20% rating for right lower extremity radiculopathy is granted. The effective date of the separate 20% rating for left lower radiculopathy remains January 14, 2021.
- Denied
The Veteran's claim for SMC(o) was denied as he could not receive multiple awards of SMC(l). The right shoulder bicipital tendonitis rating was denied, and the TDIU claim was granted.
- Granted
The Veteran is granted special monthly compensation based on the need for regular aid and attendance due to his service-connected psychiatric disability and GERD, effective December 30, 2021.
- Granted
The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his right ankle ankylosis and knee replacements, have prevented him from securing or following substantially gainful employment since January 30, 2024. The Board has granted a TDIU based on this finding.
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