The Veteran's service-connected conditions did not render him unemployable prior to November 30, 2021. The Board found that the evidence does not show he was unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation solely due to his service-connected disabilities.
The deciding factor: The Veteran had multiple service-connected disabilities rated at 80% and 90% prior to November 30, 2021, which is indicative of significant impairment. However, he was enrolled in vocational rehabilitation programs and obtained a degree, indicating he could engage in sedentary work.
- Claimed conditions
- Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), Degenerative Disc Disease L4-L5, Right Knee Limitation of Flexion, Left Knee Limitation of Extension, RLE sciatic radiculopathy, LLE sciatic radiculopathy, RLE femoral radiculopathy, LLE femoral radiculopathy, Tinnitus
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 80%
- Decision date
- November 7, 2024
- Citation
- A24072782
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 2,569 · Granted: 26% (granted or partly granted, in the vetted decisions on this site)
Judge attribution: 2025 complete; earlier years partial.
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 A24072782.
What this means for you
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What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are not related to his military service.
- Denied
The Board denied the veteran's claims for a higher rating for PTSD and dismissed his appeals regarding increased ratings for tinnitus and a right hand disability due to lack of timely filing of Notice of Disagreement.
- Denied
The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including GAD, MDD, bruxism, migraines/headaches, tinnitus, hip pain, iliotibial band syndrome, and leg stress fractures. The evidence does not support current diagnoses of these conditions during the appeal period.
- Granted
The Veteran is granted special monthly compensation (SMC) at the (o) rate and SMC at the (r)(2) rate, effective January 19, 2025. The decision finds that the Veteran's service-connected conditions warrant these awards due to his need for aid and attendance.
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