The Veteran's back disability is currently rated at 20 percent, reflecting the presence of flexion greater than 30 degrees but not exceeding 60 degrees. The condition does not meet criteria for higher ratings due to ankylosis or incapacitating episodes.
The deciding factor: The Veteran’s range of motion was found to be within the limits required for a 20 percent rating under the General Rating Formula for Diseases and Injuries of the Spine, with no evidence of unfavorable ankylosis or incapacitating episodes due to intervertebral disc syndrome.
- Claimed conditions
- Degenerative disc disease (DDD) of the thoracic spine, Musculoligamentous strain of the lumbar spine
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- March 30, 2015
- Citation
- 1513521
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 1513521.
What this means for you
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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 decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's degenerative disc disease of the thoracic spine is related to her service. The Veteran contends that her current condition is a result of heavy lifting during her time as an Air Passenger Specialist/Supervisor, which she claims caused her back pain since service.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has found that the VA examination conducted in December 2019 did not comply with the remand directives and is therefore remanded for another examination to assess the current severity of the Veteran's service-connected thoracic degenerative disc disease.
- Denied
The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for a separate disability rating for radiculopathy of the bilateral lower extremities as an objective neurological abnormality of his service-connected thoracic spine DDD, finding no evidence of diagnosed radiculopathy and that any peripheral neuropathy is not proximately due to or aggravated by his service-connected thoracic spine DDD.
- Granted
The Veteran's DDD of the thoracic spine is granted as a result of it manifesting to a degree of at least 10% within one year of service separation, and he had active service for more than 90 days. The T-8 fracture preexisted service but did not aggravate during service.
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