The Veteran's degenerative joint and disc disease of the thoracolumbar spine is currently rated at 40 percent effective October 11, 2012. The Veteran's disc disease of the cervical spine remains rated at 20 percent.
The deciding factor: The VA examinations showed that the Veteran's thoracolumbar spine disability had worsened to a point where it warranted a higher rating from October 11, 2012 onwards.
- Claimed conditions
- Degenerative joint and disc disease of the thoracolumbar spine, Disc disease of the cervical spine
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 40%
- Decision date
- November 22, 2013
- Citation
- 1338584
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 1338584.
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 determined that a remand is necessary due to the need for additional VA examination and clarification of certain issues related to the Veteran's service-connected degenerative joint and disc disease of the thoracolumbar spine.
- Granted
Service connection for PTSD is granted. The Veteran's service-connected disc disease of the lumbar spine with hemangiolipoma of the thoracic spine and cervical spine are remanded for further evaluation.
- Denied
The Veteran's peripheral vascular disease, degenerative joint and disc disease of the thoracolumbar spine, post-operative status bowel resection, carcinoma of the cecum and bowel, and fecal incontinence are not service-connected. The Board denied these claims as they were not caused or aggravated by a service-connected condition.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for cervical and thoracolumbar spine disabilities due to conflicting medical opinions. The VA examiner is requested to provide a new opinion regarding whether these conditions are related to her May 2010 injury in service.
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