The Board denied an increased evaluation for the veteran's residuals of a compression fracture of T-12, currently rated at 20 percent.
The deciding factor: The disability is already evaluated at the maximum level possible based on limitation of motion and vertebral deformity.
- Claimed conditions
- Compression fracture of T-12
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- February 26, 2003
- Citation
- 0303308
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 1,710 · Granted: 15% (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 0303308.
What this means for you
A denial is a starting point, not the end of the road. You can see why this claim fell short — and, if you are still inside the one-year window, the appeal lanes that may remain open to you.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected residuals of a compression fracture of T-12 did not cause or contribute to his death. However, the October 2014 VA examiner did not address whether this condition impacted other significant conditions contributing to his death. The case is being remanded for further review by an appropriate examiner.
- Granted
The Veteran's DDD of the lumbar spine was granted an initial rating of 10 percent prior to July 20, 2011 and a rating of 40 percent from that date. The residuals of his T-12 fracture were also granted an initial compensable evaluation.
- Denied
The veteran's claims for increased evaluations were denied as his conditions did not meet the criteria for higher ratings under the applicable VA rating schedule.
- Denied
The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected lumbar myositis, psychoneurosis and conversion hysteria, residuals of shrapnel wounds of the left thigh and pelvis with retained foreign bodies and scars, and residuals of shell fragment wounds of the right thigh and left leg. The veteran was also denied entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.
Free starter guide for your own claim
Reading this because you were denied or under-rated? Get the plain-English next steps — your appeal options, the deadline that protects you, and how appeals like yours turn out. One email, no spam.
We will only use this to send the guide. No spam, unsubscribe any time. We never sell your information.
We are not the VA. Veterans’ Rights is an independent resource built for veterans. We are not the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, not part of the government, and not endorsed by any government agency.
This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.