The Veteran's residuals of fractured T-5, T-12 and L-1 are granted a 20 percent rating prior to December 19, 2017. The Veteran's degenerative disc disease and degenerative joint disease of the cervical spine is granted a 20 percent rating from December 19, 2017.
The deciding factor: The VA examinations supported the current ratings as they showed forward flexion within the range required for the current ratings (55-74 degrees for lumbar and 20-40 degrees for cervical spine).
- Claimed conditions
- Fractured T-5, T-12 and L-1, 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
- May 18, 2018
- Citation
- 18103373
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 18103373.
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 cervical spine disability was denied a higher rating as it did not meet the criteria for an increased rating. The right hip degenerative joint disease with bursitis also failed to warrant a higher rating.
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