Techniques and systems are provided for decoding video data. For example, a method of decoding video data includes receiving, by a decoding device, an encoded video bitstream generated according to a first coding protocol, and determining that a base layer is to be provided to the decoding device as part of an external bitstream that is different from the received encoded video bitstream. The external bitstream is provided to the decoding device by an external source and is not provided as part of the encoded video bitstream. The base layer is encoded using a second coding protocol that is different from the first coding protocol. The method further includes determining to ignore a profile, tier, and level syntax structure assigned to the base layer in the video parameter set in response to determining the base layer is to be provided to the decoding device as part of an external bitstream. The profile, tier, and level syntax structure is assigned a zero value based on the base layer being provided as part of the external bitstream. The method further includes decoding the encoded video data of the encoded video bitstream.