The VA has determined that the appellant's service-connected degenerative disc disease of the thoracolumbar spine does not warrant a rating in excess of 20 percent, as his range of motion and functional loss do not meet the criteria for a higher rating.
The deciding factor: The appellant's range of motion did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under the General Rating Formula for Diseases and Injuries of the Spine due to limitations in flexion and extension that were within normal limits, and no ankylosis was found during any examination period.
- Claimed conditions
- Degenerative disc disease of the thoracolumbar spine
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- January 18, 2018
- Citation
- 1803403
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 1803403.
What this means for you
A denial is a starting point, not the end of the road. You can see why this claim fell short — and, if you are still inside the one-year window, the appeal lanes that may remain open to you.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Partly granted
The Board granted an earlier effective date of September 1, 2016, for the 40 percent rating assigned for degenerative disc disease of the thoracolumbar spine and denied a rating in excess of 40 percent.
- Granted
The Board granted an effective date of June 1, 1996, for the grant of service connection for degenerative disc disease of the thoracolumbar spine because the Veteran did not receive notice of the initial denial in 1996 and his claim remained pending.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for heart attack (myocardial infarction) status post triple coronary bypass, degenerative disc disease of the thoracolumbar spine, and an initial 10 percent rating for hypertension.
- Denied
The Board denied a compensable rating for hearing loss and left eyebrow laceration, remanded an effective date prior to April 23, 2018, for the award of service connection for left femoral nerve radiculopathy, and considered other issues including service connection for a neck disability (secondary) and ratings for various conditions.
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