The Veteran's disability rating for lumbar sprain/strain with DDD was granted at a 20 percent level, effective January 17, 2012. The claim for left ankle sprain/strain with chronic DJD is denied. TDIU remains denied.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's disability ratings were determined based on the severity of his lumbar and left ankle conditions as per VA rating criteria, without any specific service connection theory provided.
- Claimed conditions
- lumbar sprain/strain, DDD (Degenerative Disc Disease), left ankle sprain/strain, chronic DJD (Chronic Degenerative Joint Disease)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- October 29, 2018
- Citation
- 18145413
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 18145413.
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
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for a lumbosacral strain, degenerative arthritis, lumbar retrolisthesis, a vertebral fracture, and DDD (back disability), as well as right and left lower extremity radiculopathy secondary to the back disability. The decision is based on evidence showing an in-service fall causing a back injury that led to current diagnoses.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for DDD and central canal stenosis of the lumbar spine, finding that the appellant's current disability is at least as likely caused by his in-service injury.
- Granted
The Veteran's thoracolumbar disorder, including arthritis, thoracic spine scoliosis with degenerative changes, DDD, and chronic low back pain, is granted service connection. Service connection for a cervical strain is denied.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's appeal as his September 2020 substantive appeal was not timely filed, based on the VA Form 9 being received after the expiration of the 60-day time limit for filing a substantive appeal following the February 2020 SOC.
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