The veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 20 percent for inactive tuberculosis of the thoracic spine at T-4 with degenerative disc disease from July 26, 2002 until September 25, 2003 was denied.
The deciding factor: There was no evidence of unfavorable ankylosis during this period to warrant a higher rating.
- Claimed conditions
- inactive tuberculosis of the thoracic spine at T-4 with degenerative disc disease, lumbosacral degenerative joint and disc disease
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- January 7, 2009
- Citation
- 0900671
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 1,987 · Granted: 15% (granted or partly granted, in the vetted decisions on this site)
Judge attribution: 2025 complete; earlier years partial.
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 0900671.
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.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for various disabilities, including bilateral foot and knee conditions and lumbosacral degenerative joint disease, all secondary to obesity caused by service-connected PTSD. The Veteran's hearing loss claim was denied.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a VA examination and opinion regarding whether the Veteran's current back disability is etiologically related to his active service.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's lumbosacral degenerative joint and disc disease is rated at 40 percent, but the Board has remanded for further evaluation due to worsening symptoms. The TDIU claim is also being remanded.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's service-connected low back and right lower extremity disabilities have worsened, necessitating new VA examinations. The increased rating claims are remanded as they could significantly impact the TDIU claim.
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