The Veteran's degenerative joint disease of the thoracic and lumbar spine is rated at 20 percent, effective as of the date of the decision. The rating for his right lower extremity radiculopathy remains at 10 percent.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's degenerative joint disease of the thoracic and lumbar spine resulted in forward flexion greater than 60 degrees but not more than 85 degrees, warranting a 20 percent rating under the General Rating Formula for Diseases and Injuries of the Spine.
- Claimed conditions
- degenerative joint disease of the thoracic and lumbar spine
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- September 4, 2009
- Citation
- 0933338
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 0933338.
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 appeal for an effective date prior to December 22, 2005, for the award of service connection for degenerative joint disease of the thoracic and lumbar spine is dismissed due to the appellant's death.
- Denied
The Board has determined that the Veteran's degenerative joint disease of the thoracic and lumbar spine did not have onset in service or within one year of service, and was not caused or aggravated by his active service, including spinal taps. Therefore, the claim for service connection is denied.
- Dismissed
The Veteran has withdrawn his appeals for service connection for the residuals of a right ankle sprain and for a higher (compensable) initial rating for degenerative joint disease of the thoracic and lumbar spine. The Board does not have jurisdiction to consider these matters.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a back disability as there was no medical evidence of a causal link between her current back disability and her active military service.
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