The Board has denied the veteran's claim for a disability rating in excess of 10 percent for residuals of minor compression fracture of the spine (T-12) and service connection for depression as secondary to this condition. The issue of nonservice-connected pension benefits is referred back to the RO.
The deciding factor: The Board found that there was no evidence supporting a higher rating or service connection for depression, given the current criteria and lack of additional medical evidence.
- Claimed conditions
- residuals of minor compression fracture of the spine (T-12), lumbar disability
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- July 19, 2006
- Citation
- 0621197
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 0621197.
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.
- Partly granted
The Board denied service connection for bipolar disorder and denied increased ratings for the lumbar disability, left and right sciatica, and chronic sinusitis. However, it granted an increased rating of 40 percent from March 7, 2022, for left and right sciatic radiculopathy and restored a 30 percent rating for chronic sinusitis.
- Dismissed
The appeal regarding service connection for left and right lower extremity sciatica was dismissed as untimely, while other conditions were remanded for further development.
- Partly granted
The Board denied service connection for a lumbar disability and denied increased ratings for various disabilities, except for granting a 60 percent rating for coronary artery disease and a 50 percent rating for PTSD.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the matters for appropriate VA examinations to determine the nature and severity of the Veteran's lumbar spine and related radiculopathy disabilities.
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