The Board denied reopening the claim for a right foot disability and denied an increased evaluation for degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine. The veteran's current rating for his back condition is 10 percent.
The deciding factor: The evidence did not establish that the veteran's current low back disability was incurred in service, and the RO recharacterized it as degenerative joint disease rather than spondylolisthesis or spondylosis.
- Claimed conditions
- Right foot disorder, Degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 10%
- Decision date
- May 12, 2003
- Citation
- 0308931
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 0308931.
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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for increased initial evaluations of degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine, left shoulder strain with degenerative arthritis, and right shoulder degenerative arthritis due to inadequate VA examinations.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for bilateral foot disorders and special monthly compensation (SMC) due to a need for aid and attendance or being housebound, as additional evidence is needed.
- Denied
The Board denied entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) and special monthly compensation (SMC) for the period from August 29, 2014, to June 16, 2019.
- Partly granted
The Veteran's left foot disorder was rated at 10 percent from July 21, 2023, to December 18, 2023, and a 20 percent rating was granted as of the earlier effective date of December 18, 2023.
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