The Board has determined that the Veteran's DDD of the lumbar spine is as likely as not caused or aggravated by his service-connected bilateral ankle disabilities, and thus grants service connection for this condition.
The deciding factor: Medical opinions provided in support of the claim indicate a causal relationship between the Veteran's service-connected bilateral ankle disabilities and his current DDD of the lumbar spine.
- Claimed conditions
- multilevel degenerative disc disease (DDD)
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- October 15, 2012
- Citation
- 1235581
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. Read the original VA decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 1235581.
What this means for you
A grant means the Board allowed the benefit or issue identified in this decision. Review the original order: other issues in the same appeal may have a different outcome, and this decision does not predict another claim.
What you can do next
Use your own notice and decision stage. A remanded issue is not a final court-appealable denial. VA review guidance and CAVC filing instructions (U.S. federal; reviewed October 7, 2026).
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for service connection for multilevel degenerative disc disease and degenerative joint disease with radiculopathy due to inadequate response in previous medical opinions. The AOJ must request an independent medical expert opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's back condition, including consideration of his service treatment records and lay statements.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's initial claim for a higher rating for multilevel DDD was granted, and he is now receiving a 40% disability rating since August 26, 2016.,From August 26, 2016 to August 16, 2017, the Veteran's claim for TDIU based on his service-connected psychiatric disorder was granted. After this period, he is no longer considered unemployable due to his psychiatric condition.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim for service connection for multilevel degenerative disc disease and degenerative joint disease with radiculopathy due to inadequate reasoning in the previous VA medical opinion. The case is being sent back for a new addendum opinion from an orthopedic specialist.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's multilevel DDD is currently rated at 20 percent, the highest available rating under DCs 5010-5243.
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