The Veteran meets the schedular percentage requirements for a TDIU due to his service-connected disabilities, which prevent him from engaging in substantially gainful employment.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's service-connected disabilities (low back degenerative arthritis and lower extremity radiculopathy) limit his ability to perform physically demanding work, preventing him from engaging in substantially gainful employment for which he would otherwise qualify based on his education and experience.
- Claimed conditions
- Low back degenerative arthritis, Right lower extremity sciatic nerve radiculopathy, Right lower extremity femoral nerve radiculopathy, Left lower extremity sciatic nerve radiculopathy, Left lower extremity femoral nerve radiculopathy
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 70%
- Decision date
- March 31, 2026
- Citation
- A26028732
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 A26028732.
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 low back disability is rated at 50 percent effective February 13, 2021. His left lower extremity sciatic nerve radiculopathy is rated at 80 percent from April 21, 2013 to February 12, 2021. The Veteran's TDIU claim has an earlier effective date of April 21, 2013.
- Denied
The Veteran's service-connected right lower extremity sciatic and femoral nerve radiculopathy with restless leg syndrome is currently rated at 20 percent, effective May 8, 2024. The appeal for higher ratings has been denied.
- Granted
The Veteran's service-connected degenerative disc disease and associated right and left lower extremity sciatic nerve radiculopathy disabilities have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, and the Board has granted TDIU on this basis.
- Granted
The Veteran's service-connected DDD thoracolumbar spine and associated radiculopathies of the lower extremities have caused a loss of use of both lower extremities, necessitating regular and constant use of assistive devices such as canes. As a result, eligibility for specially adapted housing has been granted.
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