The veteran's claims for increased ratings for her service-connected thoracolumbar spine disability and panic disorder with generalized anxiety disorder were denied as the evidence did not support higher ratings.
The deciding factor: The veteran's symptoms, while significant, did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under applicable VA regulations.
- Claimed conditions
- arthritis of the thoracolumbar spine, panic disorder with generalized anxiety disorder
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- January 27, 2009
- Citation
- 0902758
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 1,599 · Granted: 37% (granted or partly granted, in the indexed 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. Search VA.gov for the original decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 0902758.
What this means for you
A final Board denial may be appealed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, generally within 120 days of the Board mailing date. A Supplemental Claim with new and relevant evidence is a separate option. Another Higher-Level Review of the Board decision is not available. Check your own notice: this historical decision does not set your deadline.
What you can do next
Use your own notice and decision stage. A remanded issue is not a final court-appealable denial. VA review guidance and CAVC filing instructions (U.S. federal; reviewed October 7, 2026).
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Board has granted service connection for arthritis of the thoracolumbar spine and arthritis of the cervical spine, attributing these conditions to a motor vehicle accident in 1977 during active service.
- Whole decision: Partly granted
The Board granted a 70 percent rating for panic disorder with generalized anxiety disorder and remanded the claims for service connection for migraines and sleep apnea.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Board granted service connection for arthritis of the thoracolumbar spine, finding that the Veteran's symptoms were consistent with known facts and circumstances of service.
- Whole decision: Granted
The veteran's rating for back disability was restored to 40 percent because the evidence did not show improvement during flare-ups.
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