The Veteran's service-connected traumatic arthritis of the left hip and lumbar spine disabilities are currently rated at 20 percent, which is the maximum rating available under VA regulations. The Board found no evidence to warrant a higher rating for either condition.
The deciding factor: The Veteran’s current disability ratings do not meet the criteria for any higher schedular ratings as there is no ankylosis or other factors that would justify such a rating increase.
- Claimed conditions
- Traumatic arthritis of the left hip, Traumatic arthritis of the lumbar spine
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- May 24, 2018
- Citation
- 18105545
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 18105545.
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.
- Denied
The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for PTSD is denied, and their lumbar spine disability remains at a 40 percent rating. The appeal to reopen the depressive disorder claim is dismissed.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development and readjudication due to the need for additional VA examinations, as well as consideration of extraschedular TDIU.
- Granted
The Board found that the Veteran's left hip arthritis began during service and is not a preexisting condition, thus granting her claim for service connection.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates and increased disability ratings are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examination. The TDIU claim is also inextricably intertwined with other issues.
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