The Board has granted an increased rating of 20 percent for the appellant's degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine with diminished disk space, effective from July 1, 1996. The initial disability ratings for duodenal ulcer disease, left knee chondromalacia patella, and right knee chondromalacia patella remain at 10 percent each.
The deciding factor: The appellant's lumbar spine condition was rated based on the criteria applicable to intervertebral disc syndrome prior to September 2002. Since then, the amended criteria for intervertebral disc syndrome are more favorable to his claim.
- Claimed conditions
- Degenerative Joint Disease of the Lumbar Spine with Diminished Disk Space
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- July 11, 2003
- Citation
- 0315535
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 0315535.
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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- Denied
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- Granted
The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD is granted as the evidence shows a current diagnosis of PTSD, an in-service stressor, and a medical link between the two.
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