The veteran's claim for increased ratings for his service-connected DDD of the lumbosacral spine and rheumatoid arthritis involving the sacroiliac joints was granted, with a maximum rating of 60 percent for DDD and no compensable rating for rheumatoid arthritis.
The deciding factor: The veteran's claim was based on secondary service connection due to his pre-existing spinal condition. The RO assigned the maximum schedular evaluation (60%) for his DDD as it met the criteria for severe intervertebral disc syndrome with recurring attacks and intermittent relief of symptoms.
- Claimed conditions
- Degenerative Disc Disease (DDD) of the lumbosacral spine with fracture at L4-5 and laminectomy/discectomy at L4-5, Rheumatoid arthritis involving the sacroiliac joints
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 60%
- Decision date
- January 24, 2000
- Citation
- 0001878
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 0001878.
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
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Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
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The Board granted service connection for right lower extremity sciatica associated with the Veteran's service-connected lumbosacral spine strain, but remanded claims for service connection for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and sleep apnea.
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