The Board denied service connection for arthritis of the thoracic spine and denied entitlement to increased ratings for status post os calcis stress fractures of both feet. The veteran's right foot disability is currently rated as 10 percent disabling, and his left foot disability is also rated as 10 percent disabling.
The deciding factor: The VA examiner concluded that the upper back condition was most likely secondary to wear and tear and thirty years of employment as a mechanic, combined with the veteran's obesity, and not related to the bilateral foot disabilities.
- Claimed conditions
- arthritis of the thoracic spine, status post stress fracture of the right foot with traumatic arthritis, status post stress fracture of the left foot with traumatic arthritis
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- October 9, 2002
- Citation
- 0214043
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. Search VA.gov for the original decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 0214043.
What this means for you
A final Board denial may be appealed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, generally within 120 days of the Board mailing date. A Supplemental Claim with new and relevant evidence is a separate option. Another Higher-Level Review of the Board decision is not available. Check your own notice: this historical decision does not set your deadline.
What you can do next
Use your own notice and decision stage. A remanded issue is not a final court-appealable denial. VA review guidance and CAVC filing instructions (U.S. federal; reviewed October 7, 2026).
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings due to procedural errors and a need for additional evidence, including a VA examination.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate VA examination, requiring a new evaluation of the Veteran's arthritis of the thoracic spine and its relationship to her service.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied as her thoracic and lumbar spine disabilities, including scoliosis, degenerative disc disease of the thoracic spine, arthritis of the thoracic spine, and bulging discs of the lumbar spine, did not have its onset during service or are otherwise related to service. Her cervical spine disability, skin disability, headaches, lower extremity paresthesia, psychiatric disability, right hip bursitis, left hip bursitis, right knee retropatellar pain syndrome, left knee arthrosis, and asthma were also denied.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's low back strain with degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine was granted a 10 percent rating from July 1, 1997 to October 30, 2006. Since then, he is entitled to a higher rating for this condition. The arthritis of the thoracic spine has also been rated at its maximum schedular value.
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