The Veteran's thoracic spine strain is currently rated at 10 percent, and the Board has determined that a higher rating of 20 percent is warranted based on his symptoms.
The deciding factor: The VA examinations revealed forward flexion greater than 60 degrees but not greater than 85 degrees, meeting the criteria for a 20 percent evaluation under Diagnostic Code 5237.
- Claimed conditions
- Thoracic Spine Strain
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- May 17, 2012
- Citation
- 1217757
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 1217757.
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.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for sinusitis, right knee disability, and thoracic spine strain, and assigned initial ratings of 40%, 30%, and 30% respectively. The claims for increased rating for left shoulder disability (osteoarthritic changes) and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) were also granted with the same respective ratings.
- Granted
The Veteran's service-connected panic disorder without agoraphobia alone prevents him from securing or maintaining substantially gainful employment, and he is entitled to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) effective April 27, 2009. Additionally, the Veteran has additional service-connected disabilities independently rated at 60 percent or more, qualifying him for special monthly compensation (SMC) at the housebound rate.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate addendum opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's neck, upper back, and right shoulder disabilities. The VA needs to provide new opinions addressing whether these conditions are related to service.
- Denied
The Veteran's lumbar and cervical spine disabilities are each rated at 20 percent, but the Board found they do not warrant higher ratings based on the criteria provided.
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