The Board has determined that the veteran's thoracic spine disability, currently rated at 10 percent, does not warrant a higher rating based on the evidence of record.
The deciding factor: The medical evidence shows mild limitation of motion with some discomfort in the shoulder area but no neurological symptoms. The current rating adequately reflects this condition.
- Claimed conditions
- degenerative changes of the thoracic spine
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 10%
- Decision date
- March 23, 2004
- Citation
- 0407540
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 1,555 · Granted: 19% (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 0407540.
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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the cases for further examination and evaluation due to inadequate range of motion assessments in previous examinations.
- Dismissed
The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings in excess of the assigned disability ratings have been dismissed.,Service connection has been granted for major depressive disorder.
- Granted
The Board has determined that the Veteran's thoracolumbar spine disability, including degenerative changes of the thoracic spine, lumbar spondylosis, and lumbar spine DDD, had its onset in service and has been continuous since separation. Therefore, service connection is granted.
- Granted
The Veteran's lumbar spine disability and impairment of the right lower extremity as a residual of epidural abscess of the thoracic spine are granted with specific ratings, while TDIU for the period from March 28, 2007 to April 13, 2007 is granted.
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