The Veteran's DDD of the lumbar spine is rated at 10 percent, which is denied as it does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.,The Veteran’s bilateral hip disabilities are rated at 10 percent prior to October 6, 2016 and do not meet the criteria for a higher rating after that date.,The Veteran's right knee disability is rated at 10 percent prior to April 13, 2015 and does not meet the criteria for a higher rating thereafter.,All three conditions (DDD of the lumbar spine, bilateral hip disabilities, and right knee disability) are denied as they do not meet the criteria for a higher rating.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's DDD of the lumbar spine does not meet the criteria for a higher rating under the General Rating Formula for Diseases and Injuries of the Spine.
- Claimed conditions
- Degenerative Disc Disease (DDD) of the lumbar spine, Right hip bursitis, Left hip bursitis, Right knee bursitis with chondromalacia
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- November 5, 2018
- Citation
- 18147137
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 18147137.
What this means for you
A final Board denial may be appealed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, generally within 120 days of the Board mailing date. A Supplemental Claim with new and relevant evidence is a separate option. Another Higher-Level Review of the Board decision is not available. Check your own notice: this historical decision does not set your deadline.
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 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.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings for right hip bursitis and tinnitus was denied. The Veteran's right hip disability is currently rated as 10% disabling under DC 5252, with noncompensable ratings under DCs 5251 and 5253. Service connection for tinnitus has been established.
- Whole decision: 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.
- Whole decision: 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.
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