The Veteran's service-connected degenerative disc disease of the thoracolumbar spine is currently rated at 20 percent, and the Board finds that a higher initial rating in excess of 20 percent is not warranted for any period.
The deciding factor: The evidence does not show that the Veteran's disability more closely approximates an evaluation in excess of 20 percent under the General Rating Formula for Diseases and Injuries of the Spine, as his range of motion was found to be limited but within the criteria for a 20 percent rating.
- Claimed conditions
- degenerative disc disease of the thoracolumbar spine
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- August 17, 2010
- Citation
- 1030809
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 1030809.
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.
- Partly granted
The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection, except for separate awards of service connection for left knee instability and right knee instability.
- Granted
The Board granted disability ratings of 40 percent for right shoulder impingement syndrome, 30 percent for left shoulder impingement syndrome, rotator cuff tear, and acromioclavicular joint osteoarthritis, 30 percent for degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine, 40 percent for degenerative disc disease of the thoracolumbar spine, and 30 percent for right knee patellar chondromalacia with degenerative arthritis, but not higher.
- Granted
The Board granted initial disability ratings of 50 percent for migraines and 40 percent for degenerative disc disease of the thoracolumbar spine, resolving reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.
- Dismissed
The appeal was dismissed due to the Veteran's death during the pendency of the appeal.
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