The Veteran's initial claim for a higher rating for lumbar degenerative disc disease with disc protrusion was denied. The Veteran is currently rated at 20 percent, effective April 8, 2013.,The Veteran's right foot disability, initially rated as non-compensable due to the scar from his bunionectomy and osteotomy, has been increased to a 10 percent rating since April 8, 2013. The claim for a higher initial rating remains denied.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's lumbar degenerative disc disease does not meet the criteria for a higher than 20 percent rating as his forward flexion of the thoracolumbar spine is not limited to 30 degrees or less, and he does not have ankylosis of the thoracolumbar spine. The right foot trauma warrants a 10 percent rating based on moderate severity.
- Claimed conditions
- lumbar degenerative disc disease with disc protrusion, right foot, status post bunionectomy and osteotomy
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- October 29, 2019
- Citation
- 19181497
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 2,341 · Granted: 33% (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 19181497.
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: Denied
The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected lumbar myositis, psychoneurosis and conversion hysteria, residuals of shrapnel wounds of the left thigh and pelvis with retained foreign bodies and scars, and residuals of shell fragment wounds of the right thigh and left leg. The veteran was also denied entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.
- Whole decision: Denied
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- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD is granted as the evidence shows a current diagnosis of PTSD, an in-service stressor, and a medical link between the two.
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