The Veteran's back condition is rated at 20 percent, which is the maximum schedular rating available. The PTSD claim has been granted with a 50 percent rating.
The deciding factor: The Veteran’s flexion of the thoracolumbar spine was limited to 40 degrees, not meeting the criteria for a higher rating under the General Rating Formula for Diseases and Injuries of the Spine.
- Claimed conditions
- thoracolumbar spine spondylosis, degenerative lumbar spinal stenosis
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- November 20, 2018
- Citation
- 18151919
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 18151919.
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 Board has granted service connection for thoracolumbar spine spondylosis and degenerative arthritis, finding that the conditions originated during active service.
- Granted
The Veteran's service-connected thoracolumbar spine spondylosis with IVDS and left lower extremity radiculopathy are rated at 40 percent, effective June 8, 2021.
- Granted
The Veteran's lumbar spine disability was found to have started during his military service and has continued since then, meeting the criteria for service connection.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand several issues, including the Veteran's claims for service connection for his bilateral thigh disability as secondary to his service-connected back disability and for increased ratings of various disabilities. The decision also includes a request for additional VA examinations and an updated VA Form 21-8940.
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