The Veteran's thoracolumbar spine disability, which was previously rated at 20 percent prior to September 27, 2011 and then assigned a 100 percent rating from that date until January 1, 2012, is now rated at 40 percent effective January 2, 2012.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's thoracolumbar spine disability resulted in favorable ankylosis of the entire thoracolumbar spine since September 27, 2011 following spinal fusion surgery.
- Claimed conditions
- Thoracolumbar Spine Disability
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 40%
- Decision date
- December 28, 2017
- Citation
- 1760862
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 1760862.
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.
- 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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