The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for cervicalgia with bulging disc and DDD, as well as scoliosis, DDD and DJD with arthritic changes prior to June 12, 2015 were denied. The criteria for these conditions have not been met.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's symptoms did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under the General Rating Formula for Diseases and Injuries of the Spine or the Formula for Rating Intervertebral Disc Syndrome Based on Incapacitating Episodes.
- Claimed conditions
- Cervicalgia with bulging disc and degenerative disc disease (DDD), Scoliosis, DDD and degenerative joint disease (DJD) with arthritic changes, Left hip degenerative arthritis, Right hip degenerative arthritis, Left knee derangement and degenerative arthritis, Right knee derangement and degenerative arthritis, Left knee impairment, Right knee impairment, Left knee extension limitation, Right knee extension limitation, Right knee scars
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- March 7, 2019
- Citation
- 19116221
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 2,776 · Granted: 24% (granted or partly granted, in the indexed decisions on this site)
Judge attribution: 2025 complete; earlier years partial.
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 19116221.
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: Granted
The Veteran's right knee scars are rated at a separate 10 percent under Diagnostic Code 7804 throughout the entire period on appeal, but no higher. The Board denied an initial compensable rating for the service-connected right knee scars under Diagnostic Code 7805.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating for his bilateral pes planus, right leg length discrepancy, right shoulder disability, left shoulder disability, right knee scars, or limitation of extension and flexion of the left knee.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left hip and right hip disabilities, finding that there is no evidence to support a nexus between these conditions and his service-connected lumbar spine disability.
- Whole decision: Dismissed
The Veteran's appeals for initial compensable evaluations for right knee scars and residuals of right knee injury post-operative arthroscopy, extension have been dismissed. The appeal for an increased rating for PTSD has also been dismissed.
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