The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 40 percent for degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine has been dismissed.,New and material evidence has been received to reopen the Veteran’s claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus, but the claim is only granted on this basis.,Service connection for left hip disorder and right hip disorder have both been denied as secondary to service-connected degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine.,Service connection for PTSD has been granted.,The Veteran's original claim for service connection for degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine was denied in 2006, with no appeal received within one year. The current effective date is December 8, 2011.
The deciding factor: The Veteran withdrew his claim for a rating in excess of 40 percent for degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine during his June 2018 hearing.,New and material evidence was submitted to reopen the diabetes mellitus claim, but service connection is only granted on this basis as there are no other claims related to diabetes mellitus.,The preponderance of the evidence does not support a current diagnosis of left hip disorder or right hip disorder. The Veteran's hip pain is attributed to lumbar radiculopathy.,Service connection for PTSD was established based on the Veteran’s active duty service.,The original denial of service connection for degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine in 2006 was not appealed within one year, resulting in a final decision.
- Claimed conditions
- Degenerative Joint Disease of the Lumbar Spine, Diabetes Mellitus, Left Hip Disorder, Right Hip Disorder, Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- July 24, 2018
- Citation
- 18120506
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 18120506.
What this means for you
A dismissal means the Board did not decide the issue on its merits — usually because it was withdrawn or had become moot. It says more about procedure than about whether a claim like this can win.
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: 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.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 50% since March 23, 2004. The Board found that a higher rating is not warranted prior to February 15, 2005 due to the severity of his symptoms and their impact on his social and occupational functioning.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and any acquired psychiatric disorder, finding that there was no evidence to support a link between his current mental health conditions and his military service.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's PTSD resulted in occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity, warranting a 70% disability rating. The Veteran also met the criteria for a TDIU due to his service-connected disabilities preventing him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.
Free starter guide for your own claim
Reading this because you were denied or under-rated? Get the plain-English next steps — your appeal options, the deadline that protects you, and how appeals like yours turn out. One email, no spam.
We will only use this to send the guide. No spam, unsubscribe any time. We never sell your information.
We are not the VA. Veterans’ Rights is an independent resource built for veterans. We are not the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, not part of the government, and not endorsed by any government agency.
This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.