The Board granted an earlier effective date of September 14, 2018, for the award of a 40 percent disability rating for service-connected degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine but denied entitlement to TDIU.

The deciding factor: The evidence did not demonstrate that the Veteran's disabilities alone were of such nature and severity to preclude him from securing or following substantially gainful employment.

Claimed conditions

Degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine, Coronary artery disease, Tinnitus, Hypertension, Lateral epicondylitis of the right elbow (limitation of flexion and supination), Bilateral hearing loss, Hiatal hernia with gastroesophageal reflux (GERD)

How they argued it

Direct service connection

Exposure basis

None

Rating assigned

40%

Decision date

October 20, 2025

Citation

A25090346

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