The Board has granted an increased rating to 40 percent for service-connected traumatic arthritis of the lumbar spine, and a separate grant of 10 percent for thoracic (dorsal) spine spondylosis. The veteran's back disability is now rated as 40 percent disabling.
The deciding factor: The recent medical records show evidence of arthritis with severe limitation of motion in both the lumbar and dorsal spines, warranting a rating increase to 40 percent for traumatic arthritis of the lumbar spine under Code 5292. The thoracic spondylosis is rated at 10 percent under Code 5010.
- Claimed conditions
- Traumatic Arthritis of the Lumbar Spine, Thoracic (Dorsal) Spine Spondylosis
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 40%
- Decision date
- April 5, 2001
- Citation
- 0110002
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 0110002.
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 Veteran's PTSD is granted at a rating of 70 percent, but no higher. The right inguinal hernia and left index finger fracture are both denied as not compensable.
- Denied
The Veteran's traumatic arthritis of the lumbar spine was evaluated at a 20 percent rating since February 1, 2008. The disability is currently manifested by forward flexion to no less than 35 degrees, accounting for pain on motion and after repetition; no ankylosis; and no incapacitating episodes.
- Denied
The Veteran's lumbar spine disability was rated at 40 percent prior to February 1, 2008. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating as there was no unfavorable ankylosis of the entire thoracolumbar spine.
- Denied
The Board found that the Veteran's left knee disability did not have its clinical onset in service, was not due to or aggravated by a service-connected disability, and is not presumed to be related to service. The Veteran's lumbar spine disability was also denied as it was determined to be unrelated to service.
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