The Veteran's back DDD is rated at 20 percent, and his left hip osteoarthritis with limited flexion is rated at 10 percent. Both conditions are denied for increased ratings.,The Veteran's lumbar spine DDD does not meet the criteria for a higher rating as it has not resulted in limitation of motion to less than 30 degrees or ankylosis. His left hip osteoarthritis with limited flexion also did not meet the criteria for a higher rating as his flexion is not limited to less than 20 degrees.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's lumbar spine DDD and left hip osteoarthritis do not demonstrate sufficient functional impairment or limitation of motion to warrant increased ratings.
- Claimed conditions
- Degenerative Disc Disease (DDD) of the lumbar spine, Left hip osteoarthritis with limited flexion
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- May 17, 2022
- Citation
- 22028971
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 22028971.
What this means for you
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Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has determined that there is a need for additional medical examination and opinion to address the Veteran's claim of service connection for a back disability, including DDD of the lumbar spine. The current VA opinions are deemed inadequate due to their failure to consider the Veteran's lay reports of in-service injury and continuous symptomatology since service.
- Denied
The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine and bilateral hearing loss, do not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.
- Denied
The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine was denied as his symptoms did not meet or approximate the criteria for a higher evaluation.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for OSA as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected DDD of the lumbar spine, finding that his service-connected condition aggravated his nonservice-connected OSA.
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