The Veteran's thoracolumbar spine disorder was manifested by no more than thoracic spine degenerative disc disease; lumbar spine degenerative changes; recurrent severe 'stabbing' mid-back pain with radiation into the right buttock; a functional range of motion of the thoracolumbar spine of flexion to 56 degrees, extension to 10 degrees, right lateral extension to 25 degrees, left lateral extension to 16 degrees, and bilateral lateral rotation to 22 degrees; right thoracic sacrospinalis muscle pain and tenderness; bilateral absent knee jerks; bilateral 1+ ankle jerks; no lower extremity numbness, paresthesias, or weakness; and no incapacitating episodes.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's symptoms did not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation under any applicable diagnostic codes due to her functional range of motion being within normal limits with only mild pain on use.
- Claimed conditions
- Thoracic spine degenerative disc disease, Lumbar spine degenerative changes
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 10%
- Decision date
- March 18, 2016
- Citation
- 1611037
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 1611037.
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.
- Granted
The Veteran is granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) on an extraschedular basis for the appeal period beginning on June 25, 2009.
- Granted
The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea as secondary to his service-connected major depressive disorder and lumbar spine degenerative changes, including obesity as an intermediate step.
- Denied
The Veteran's right shoulder impingement syndrome status post acromial decompression surgery is currently rated at 20 percent, which is the maximum rating available under Diagnostic Code 5201.,The Veteran's thoracic spine degenerative disc disease is currently rated at 10 percent. The appeal for a higher rating has been denied.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to missing records and deficient examinations. The issues include rating his lumbar spine degenerative changes, cervical syndrome with mild degenerative changes, and TDIU.
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