The Veteran's claim for a higher disability rating for lumbar spine degenerative disc disease (DDD) is granted, effective from July 23, 2014. The claims of service connection for right and left knee disorders are reopened, but the issues of service connection for other conditions remain pending.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's lumbar spine DDD was shown to have limitations that warranted a 40% disability rating throughout the appeal period.
- Claimed conditions
- Spina Bifida, T12 Fracture, Mid-Sacroiliac Joint Trauma
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 40%
- Decision date
- November 13, 2020
- Citation
- 20073159
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 2,699 · Granted: 17% (granted or partly granted, in the vetted 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. Look up the original decision on VA.gov (opens in a new tab) using citation 20073159.
What this means for you
A grant means the Board agreed the veteran was entitled to the benefit. Decisions like this show the kind of evidence and arguments that tend to succeed for claims like it.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Denied
The Board denied the claim as there is no evidence of spina bifida in the appellant's medical records, and her symptoms are better explained by other conditions.
- Granted
The Board granted the appellant's appeal to restore benefits for spina bifida, finding that the AOJ did not meet its burden of proof in severing the benefits.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran was born with spina bifida or spina bifida occulta, and if so, whether he has residuals from either condition.
- Dismissed
The appeal was dismissed because the appellant died during the pendency of the appeal, and thus the Board has no jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of this case.
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