The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for Degenerative Disc Disease (DDD) of the lumbar spine was denied in July 2015. The effective date is set at July 23, 2015.
The deciding factor: The Board found that there was no formal or informal claim prior to July 23, 2015 for an increased rating for DDD of the lumbar spine.
- Claimed conditions
- Degenerative Disc Disease (DDD) of the lumbar spine
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 40%
- Decision date
- June 25, 2019
- Citation
- 19149156
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 Board denied the veteran's claims for a higher rating for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine and an earlier effective date for total disability based on individual unemployability.
- Denied
The Board denied an effective date prior to January 10, 2024, for the grant of service connection for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine.
- Denied
The Board denied the claim for increased rating for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, both prior to and from December 2, 2019.
- Granted
The Board granted an initial disability rating of 40 percent for degenerative disc disease (DDD) of the lumbar spine.
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This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.