The Board found that the Veteran is not entitled to an earlier effective date for a 40 percent rating for his thoracolumbar spine disability, but it remanded the TDIU claim due to procedural issues.
The deciding factor: The RO determined that separate ratings for thoracic and lumbar spine disabilities were not warranted as they were evaluated under the same Diagnostic Code (DC).
- Claimed conditions
- Thoracolumbar Spine Disability
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 40%
- Decision date
- September 17, 2015
- Citation
- 1540057
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 1540057.
What this means for you
A partial grant means some issues were granted while others were denied or remanded — common in multi-issue claims. Look at which issues went which way, and how each was argued.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Denied
The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for TDIU was denied as there is no prior unadjudicated claim found in the record. The issue of TDIU was not raised until after a final rating decision on service connection for PTSD and TBI.
- Partly granted
The Board granted increased ratings for the Veteran's right and left shoulder rotator cuff disabilities, effective from March 25, 2008 and February 28, 2008 respectively. The thoracolumbar spine disability was also rated at 40 percent, but a temporary total disability rating for convalescence following a January 13, 2016 left shoulder surgery was denied.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands all issues on appeal for further development, including obtaining additional medical opinions and ensuring compliance with prior remand directives.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and remanded the claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, thoracolumbar spine disability, left knee disability, right knee disability, and right wrist disability.
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