The veteran's service-connected degenerative joint diseases of the lumbosacral, cervical, and thoracic spines are currently rated at 20 percent each. The Board finds that these ratings are appropriate.
The deciding factor: The medical evidence does not support a higher rating for any of the spine conditions based on current functional impairment or additional limitations due to pain.
- Claimed conditions
- Degenerative Joint Disease of Lumbosacral Spine, Degenerative Joint Disease of Cervical Spine, Degenerative Joint Disease of Thoracic Spine
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- July 19, 2004
- Citation
- 0419460
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 0419460.
What this means for you
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What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Granted
The Veteran's low back disability is rated at 40 percent, effective July 31, 2023. Radiculopathy of the left and right lower extremities (sciatic and femoral nerves) are also rated as 40 percent each since July 31, 2023.
- Granted
The petition to reopen the claim of entitlement to service connection for PTSD is granted.,The petition to reopen the claim of entitlement to service connection for depression is granted.,The petition to reopen the claim of entitlement to service connection for degenerative joint disease, cervical spine is granted.,The petition to reopen the claim of entitlement to service connection for intervertebral disc syndrome, lumbar spine is granted.,The petition to reopen the claim of entitlement to service connection for hypertension is denied.,The petition to reopen the claim of entitlement to service connection for acquired psychiatric disorder (which includes PTSD and depression) is granted.
- Granted
The Veteran's rating for degenerative joint disease of cervical spine was reduced from 30 percent to 20 percent in September 2016. The reduction did not result in a reduction in his overall compensation rate, so the restoration of the 30 percent rating is granted.
- Granted
The Veteran's thoracolumbar spine disability is rated at 20 percent prior to October 6, 2017 and at 40 percent thereafter. The cervical spine disability is rated at 30 percent from October 28, 2008 to July 26, 2019.
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