The veteran was granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to his service-connected thoracolumbar degenerative disc disease with lumbar spasms, IVDS, bulging disc, and spondylolisthesis.

The deciding factor: During the appeal period, the Veteran's back disability prevented him from being able to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation.

Claimed conditions

left lower extremity sciatic nerve radiculopathy, right lower extremity sciatic nerve radiculopathy, left lower extremity femoral nerve radiculopathy, right lower extremity femoral nerve radiculopathy, thoracolumbar degenerative disc disease with lumbar spasms, intervertebral disc syndrome (IVDS), bulging disc, and spondylolisthesis

How they argued it

Direct service connection

Exposure basis

None

Rating assigned

100%

Decision date

December 1, 2025

Citation

A25103154

Want to see how appeals like this one tend to go? Appeals like mine