The Board has determined that the Veteran's current thoracic spine disability, including spondylosis and degenerative joint disease, is due to an injury sustained during his active service. The VA examiner found the Veteran credible in his statements about the back injury in service and subsequent symptoms.
The deciding factor: The VA examiner concluded that the current thoracic spine disability was most likely caused by a trauma incurred during the Veteran's active service while training in Japan, consistent with his reported accident.
- Claimed conditions
- Thoracic spondylosis, Degenerative joint disease of the thoracolumbar spine
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 100%
- Decision date
- June 4, 2012
- Citation
- 1219505
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 1219505.
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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claim of service connection for a thoracolumbar spine disability, finding that the VA examination and opinion were inadequate as they did not consider the Veteran's complete medical history. The case is now to be reviewed with an addendum VA opinion.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for degenerative joint disease of the thoracolumbar spine and cervical spine, finding that the evidence was approximately balanced as to whether these conditions were caused by an injury or event during active service.
- Denied
The Board denied an earlier effective date for the award of service connection for degenerative joint disease of the thoracolumbar spine, finding that August 10, 2023, is the earliest available date based on the Veteran's claim.
- Granted
The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities have prevented him from securing and maintaining substantially gainful employment, warranting a TDIU on an extraschedular basis.
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