The Veteran's DDD was rated at 10 percent from July 29, 2016 to June 28, 2018. The appeal is denied as the criteria for an increased rating in excess of 10 percent have not been met.,Service connection for radiculopathy in the right lower extremity (sciatic) was granted with a 20 percent initial rating from June 28, 2018. The effective date is denied as it has not been established that entitlement to this service connection arose before June 28, 2018.,Service connection for radiculopathy in the left lower extremity (sciatic) was granted with a 20 percent initial rating from June 28, 2018. The effective date is denied as it has not been established that entitlement to this service connection arose before June 28, 2018.,Service connection for radiculopathy in the right lower extremity (femoral) was granted with a 20 percent initial rating from June 28, 2018. The effective date is denied as it has not been established that entitlement to this service connection arose before June 28, 2018.,Service connection for radiculopathy in the left lower extremity (femoral) was granted with a 20 percent initial rating from June 28, 2018. The effective date is denied as it has not been established that entitlement to this service connection arose before June 28, 2018.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's DDD did not meet the criteria for an increased rating in excess of 10 percent from July 29, 2016 to June 28, 2018.
- Claimed conditions
- Degenerative Disk Disease (DDD)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- August 28, 2019
- Citation
- 19166866
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 19166866.
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.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, effective from the date of the February 2025 rating decision.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for a medical examination to determine if the Veteran's current neck strain is related to his in-service activities.
- Granted
The Board granted an effective date of October 20, 2023 for a 70 percent rating for service-connected PTSD.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for a rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD due to an inadequate medical opinion.
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.