The Board has determined that the Veteran's neurological impairment is not related to his service-connected traumatic arthritis of the thoracic spine, and thus cannot be granted a separate rating.
The deciding factor: VA examiners found no objective neurologic abnormality related to the Veteran's service-connected thoracic spine disability.
- Claimed conditions
- Traumatic Arthritis of the Thoracic Spine, Neurological Impairment
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- November 25, 2015
- Citation
- 1549868
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. Search VA.gov for the original decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 1549868.
What this means for you
A final Board denial may be appealed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, generally within 120 days of the Board mailing date. A Supplemental Claim with new and relevant evidence is a separate option. Another Higher-Level Review of the Board decision is not available. Check your own notice: this historical decision does not set your deadline.
What you can do next
Use your own notice and decision stage. A remanded issue is not a final court-appealable denial. VA review guidance and CAVC filing instructions (U.S. federal; reviewed October 7, 2026).
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for additional development, including a VA examination to assess the Veteran's erectile dysfunction and its impact on his penile health.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Board has granted a 20 percent rating for the veteran's thoracic spine arthritis, effective from the date of the decision.
- Whole decision: Denied
The VA determined that the veteran's additional low back disability and neurological impairment were not caused by or a result of the May 2001 VA surgery, thus denying compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151.
- Whole decision: Granted
The veteran's left scapula fracture and thoracic spine arthritis are rated at 10 percent each. A staged 20 percent rating is granted for the left scapula fracture effective from December 21, 2004. The thoracic spine disability remains at 10 percent.
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