The Veteran's thoracolumbar spine disability is rated at 10 percent from January 15, 2007 to prior to February 23, 2009. From February 23, 2009, the rating for his thoracolumbar spine disability has been increased to 20 percent.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's thoracolumbar spine disability was manifested by painful motion and X-ray evidence of arthritis from January 15, 2007. The VA examiner noted forward flexion at 90 degrees with palpable spasm over bilateral trapezius muscle indicative of painful limitation of motion.
- Claimed conditions
- Degenerative disc disease and degenerative joint disease of the thoracolumbar spine, Degenerative disc disease and degenerative joint disease of the cervical spine
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- October 30, 2017
- Citation
- 1748767
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 1748767.
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's cervical spine disability, including degenerative disc disease and degenerative joint disease, is found to be related to his active service.,His right upper extremity numbness and left upper extremity numbness are both determined to be secondary to his now service-connected cervical spine disability.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for degenerative disc disease and degenerative joint disease of the cervical spine, but remanded claims for left and right hip conditions.
- Denied
The Board denied the veteran's claims for earlier effective dates and service connection, except for tinnitus which was granted.
- Denied
The Veteran's whole-body joint pain was not shown as chronic in service and did not manifest to a compensable degree within the applicable presumptive period; continuity of symptomatology is not established; and the disability is not secondary to service-connected bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, or otherwise etiologically related to an in-service injury or disease.,The Veteran's bilateral cataracts are not secondary to service-connected type II diabetes mellitus, and are not otherwise related to an in-service injury or disease.,The Veteran's degenerative disc disease and degenerative joint disease of the thoracolumbar spine are not secondary to service-connected type II diabetes mellitus or bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy; was not shown as chronic in service and did not manifest to a compensable degree within the applicable presumptive period; continuity of symptomatology is not established; and the disability is not otherwise etiologically related to an in-service injury or disease.,The Veteran's hypertension is not secondary to service-connected posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or type II diabetes mellitus, and is not otherwise related to an in-service injury or disease, to include exposure to herbicide agents.
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