The Veteran's lumbar spine DDD and right hamstring tendinosis with hip strain have been granted initial disability ratings of 20 percent each, effective from September 1, 2013.,Service connection has also been established for the secondary disabilities of limited extension and limited flexion related to right hamstring tendinosis, both effective from September 1, 2013.
The deciding factor: The evidence showed that throughout the period on appeal, the Veteran's lumbar spine DDD presented with forward flexion limited to no worse than 45 degrees and without favorable ankylosis of the entire thoracolumbar spine. The right hamstring tendinosis with hip strain resulted in limitation of abduction of the thigh with motion lost beyond 10 degrees.,The evidence was at least in equipoise as to the date of onset for the secondary disabilities, leading to their effective dates being set from September 1, 2013.
- Claimed conditions
- lumbar spine degenerative disc disease (DDD), right hamstring tendinosis with hip strain
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- February 23, 2023
- Citation
- 23011276
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 23011276.
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.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for lumbar spine degenerative arthritis and DDD, as well as right and left lower extremity radiculopathy secondary to the now service-connected lumbar spine condition. The decision is based on a finding of relative equipoise in the evidence regarding whether these conditions are related to service.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the case due to a duty to assist error regarding the service connection for left lower extremity radiculopathy, including as aggravated by service-connected lumbar spine degenerative disc disease (DDD).
- Granted
The Veteran's service-connected lumbosacral spine disability, including spondylosis, lumbar spine degenerative disc disease (DDD), facet joint arthritis, and L4-5 disc bulge, is now rated at 40 percent effective June 11, 2019.
- Denied
The Board has denied the Veteran's requests to appeal the May 12, 2023 rating decision that granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and denied service connection for lumbar spine DDD, left heel injury, and right knee injury. The reasons given were that the appeals were not timely filed.
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