The veteran's claims for secondary service connection and service connection were denied. The initial rating for degenerative arthritis of the right hip remains at 10 percent.
The deciding factor: The VA medical evidence did not support a finding that the osteoarthritis of the lumbar spine or abdominal aortic aneurysm developed as a result of, or was aggravated by, any service-connected disability. The VA orthopedist's opinion indicated that it would be very difficult to apportion blame for the veteran's degenerative changes in his spine.
- Claimed conditions
- Osteoarthritis of the lumbar spine, Abdominal aortic aneurysm, Degenerative arthritis of the right hip
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 10%
- Decision date
- May 18, 2001
- Citation
- 0114099
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 0114099.
What this means for you
A denial is a starting point, not the end of the road. You can see why this claim fell short — and, if you are still inside the one-year window, the appeal lanes that may remain open to you.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Partly granted
The Board denied initial ratings in excess of 10 percent for degenerative arthritis of the right and left hips, but granted a 10 percent rating from April 12, 2011, for both hip conditions.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for a right knee disability, right hip disability, right hand disability, and right wrist disability on a direct basis.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for service connection for degenerative arthritis of the right hip and osteitis pubis to correct duty to assist errors that occurred prior to the rating decision on appeal.
- Partly granted
The appeal for higher ratings of sciatic and femoral nerve radiculopathies was dismissed, while the claims for service connection of degenerative arthritis and avascular necrosis of both hips were remanded.
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