The veteran's back disability is currently rated at 40 percent, and the Board finds no basis to grant a higher rating. The knee and hip disabilities are not service-connected as secondary to his back disability.
The deciding factor: The VA examination did not find any evidence of ankylosis or other conditions that would warrant a higher rating for the veteran's low back disability. The knee and hip disabilities were found to be unrelated to the service-connected back disability.
- Claimed conditions
- Impairment of the thoracolumbar spine, Right lower extremity neurological impairment, Left lower extremity neurological impairment
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 40%
- Decision date
- July 3, 2007
- Citation
- 0720007
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 0720007.
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 Veteran's appeal of the rating assigned for his service-connected degenerative arthritis of the thoracolumbar spine is remanded due to a duty-to-assist error. The issues of service connection for neurological impairment of the bilateral lower extremities are also remanded as VA failed to fulfill its duty to assist.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for right lower extremity neurological impairment and bilateral hearing loss disability due to inconsistencies in VA medical opinions and missing records. The Veteran's service connection claim for right lower extremity neurological impairment is being reviewed, while his compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 claim remains pending.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for cervical spine, right lower extremity neurological impairment, and left foot disabilities due to deficiencies in the June 2019 VA examinations. The issues include rating determinations for these conditions prior to specific dates and in excess of certain percentages.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a separate disability rating for bladder impairment and right lower extremity neurological impairment due to service-connected back disability, as well as her claim for TDIU. The Veteran's claims are pending until these issues can be adjudicated.
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