The Veteran's DDD of the lumbar spine was granted a 10 percent rating prior to February 11, 2004 and a 40 percent rating beginning on that date.,Right lower extremity radiculopathy associated with DDD was granted an initial 10 percent rating from February 2, 1994 to August 14, 2014.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's DDD of the lumbar spine resulted in significant functional impairment prior to February 11, 2004, but his condition improved with treatment and he was able to return to work. From February 11, 2004 onwards, his disability necessitated a higher rating.
- Claimed conditions
- Degenerative Disc Disease (DDD) of the lumbar spine, Right lower extremity radiculopathy associated with Degenerative Disc Disease
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 40%
- Decision date
- February 5, 2018
- Citation
- 1807329
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 1807329.
What this means for you
A partial grant means some issues were granted while others were denied or remanded — common in multi-issue claims. Look at which issues went which way, and how each was argued.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has determined that there is a need for additional medical examination and opinion to address the Veteran's claim of service connection for a back disability, including DDD of the lumbar spine. The current VA opinions are deemed inadequate due to their failure to consider the Veteran's lay reports of in-service injury and continuous symptomatology since service.
- Denied
The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine and bilateral hearing loss, do not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.
- Denied
The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine was denied as his symptoms did not meet or approximate the criteria for a higher evaluation.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for OSA as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected DDD of the lumbar spine, finding that his service-connected condition aggravated his nonservice-connected OSA.
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