The Veteran's back disability has been rated at 40 percent since February 2, 2007. The rating is based on the functional limitation of forward flexion of the thoracolumbar spine being comparable to 30 degrees or less.
The deciding factor: The evidence showed that the Veteran had limited forward flexion of his thoracolumbar spine, which met the criteria for a 40 percent disability rating under the General Rating Formula for Diseases and Injuries of the Spine.
- Claimed conditions
- Thoracolumbar spine strain, Degenerative joint/disc disease, Sacralization at L5-S1 level
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 40%
- Decision date
- December 17, 2014
- Citation
- 1455623
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 1455623.
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.
- Denied
The Veteran's initial rating for thoracolumbar spine strain is denied, with a current rating of 20 percent. The claim for higher staged ratings for cervical spine spondylosis remains pending.
- Denied
The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for a 20 percent rating for her back disability is denied as there is no evidence of increased severity prior to the May 9, 2024 effective date.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has determined that new and relevant evidence has been received to support the Veteran's claims for service connection, but the claims are being remanded due to deficiencies in the medical opinions provided.
- Partly granted
The Board denied increased ratings for cervical and thoracolumbar spine strains, TMJ disorder, dermatitis of the face, right knee chondromalacia grade II with patellar tendonitis, medial meniscal derangement, and Baker's cyst, and bilateral hearing loss. However, service connection was granted for radicular pain paresthesia of the right upper extremity.
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