The Board has granted an increased rating of 20 percent for the service-connected thoracic spine disorder, effective from the date of the initial claim. Service connection was also established for arthritis of the spine as secondary to a service-connected disorder.
The deciding factor: The medical evidence showed that the veteran's forward flexion in his thoracolumbar spine was not greater than 60 degrees, warranting a 20 percent rating under the new criteria for evaluating spinal disorders. The veteran also had arthritis of the spine which was found to be related to a service-connected disorder.
- Claimed conditions
- compression fracture of T-10, T-11, and T-12, degenerative joint disease of the right knee, degenerative joint disease of the left knee, degenerative joint disease of the right shoulder, degenerative joint disease of the left shoulder, stomach disorder (presumed to be related to service), arthritis of the spine
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- September 21, 2007
- Citation
- 0729735
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 0729735.
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.
- Dismissed
The Veteran's appeals were dismissed due to the death of the appellant. The issues related to service connection for various conditions and disability ratings.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his bilateral hips and right knee are being remanded due to duty-to-assist errors. The VA is required to obtain the Veteran's SSA disability benefits records, provide supplemental opinions regarding the ameliorative effects of medication on his hip and knee disabilities, and correct any duty-to-assist errors.
- Dismissed
The Veteran's appeal was dismissed due to their death during the pendency of the appeal.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his right and left knee disabilities, as well as his right knee scar. The RO must attempt to obtain all available private treatment records from the Tennessee Orthopedic Clinic.
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