The Veteran's initial rating for thoracic spine arthritis was denied as the evidence did not support a higher evaluation.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's disability, while causing slight limitation of motion and arthritis on x-ray, did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under either the old or new regulations.
- Claimed conditions
- thoracic spine arthritis
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 10%
- Decision date
- March 23, 2009
- Citation
- 0910769
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 609 · Granted: 22% (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 0910769.
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 the Veteran's claims for service connection for a back disability and thoracic spine arthritis, finding that new evidence supports these claims under the presumptive service connection provisions.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claim for service connection for cervical and thoracic spine disabilities is being remanded due to the submission of new evidence that is relevant to his claims.
- Granted
The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered her helpless as to need regular aid and attendance of another person, warranting SMC based on aid and attendance from April 21, 2021.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's request for an effective date prior to February 1, 2015, for the start of payment of disability compensation based on his service-connected disabilities. The effective date of the grants of service connection was January 1, 2015, but actual payment began on February 1, 2015.
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