The Board has granted a rating of 20 percent for the veteran's thoracic spine strain, which was previously rated at 10 percent. The condition is currently manifested by pain and limitation of motion.
The deciding factor: The medical evidence showed moderate limitation of forward flexion (50/90 degrees) and extension (15/30 degrees), qualifying for a 20 percent rating under the old criteria, and meeting the new criteria as well.
- Claimed conditions
- Thoracic Spine Strain
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- August 3, 2005
- Citation
- 0520904
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 0520904.
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.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for sinusitis, right knee disability, and thoracic spine strain, and assigned initial ratings of 40%, 30%, and 30% respectively. The claims for increased rating for left shoulder disability (osteoarthritic changes) and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) were also granted with the same respective ratings.
- Granted
The Veteran's service-connected panic disorder without agoraphobia alone prevents him from securing or maintaining substantially gainful employment, and he is entitled to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) effective April 27, 2009. Additionally, the Veteran has additional service-connected disabilities independently rated at 60 percent or more, qualifying him for special monthly compensation (SMC) at the housebound rate.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate addendum opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's neck, upper back, and right shoulder disabilities. The VA needs to provide new opinions addressing whether these conditions are related to service.
- Denied
The Veteran's lumbar and cervical spine disabilities are each rated at 20 percent, but the Board found they do not warrant higher ratings based on the criteria provided.
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