The Veteran's claim for higher ratings for lumbosacral spine DJD and DDD was denied. Prior to September 26, 2018, the rating was denied as his disability did not meet or approximate the criteria for a higher than 10 percent evaluation. From September 26, 2018, the rating was also denied due to lack of evidence meeting the criteria for a higher than 40 percent evaluation.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's lumbosacral spine DJD and DDD did not meet or approximate the criteria for a disability rating higher than 10 percent prior to September 26, 2018, nor did it meet or approximate the criteria for a disability rating higher than 40 percent from that date.
- Claimed conditions
- lumbosacral spine degenerative joint disease (DJD), lumbosacral spine degenerative disc disease (DDD)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- January 19, 2024
- Citation
- 24002928
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 913 · Granted: 41% (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 24002928.
What this means for you
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What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Dismissed
The appeal is dismissed due to the Veteran's death during the pendency of the appeal.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for right and left shoulder disorders, cervical spine disorder, and a rating in excess of 40 percent for lumbosacral spine degenerative disc disease.
- Denied
The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of a low back disability was denied as there were no pending, unadjudicated claims prior to October 25, 2021.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a neck condition and migraine headaches, as well as his increased rating claims for left foot pes planus with DJD of the left great toe and right foot pes planus with DJD of the right great toe. The lumbosacral spine degenerative disc disease was also denied.
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