The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 40 percent for residuals of L1 fracture with degenerative arthritis and degenerative disc disease was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support an increased rating as there were no findings of unfavorable ankylosis or incapacitating episodes.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's disability picture did not meet the criteria for a higher rating due to lack of findings of unfavorable ankylosis or incapacitating episodes of intervertebral disc disease with at least 6 weeks' duration in the past year.
- Claimed conditions
- L1 fracture with degenerative arthritis, Degenerative disc disease, Ankylosing spondylitis
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 40%
- Decision date
- December 11, 2018
- Citation
- 18156471
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 18156471.
What this means for you
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What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Denied
The appeal for an increased rating for left hip, the claims for entitlement to an earlier effective date and an increased rating for right knee strain, and the appeal for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for left shoulder strain were dismissed. The claim for a 40 percent rating from June 24, 2021 for degenerative disc disease was granted.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for a lumbar spine disability as secondary to a cervical spine disability due to an inadequate medical opinion.
- Partly granted
The Board granted a higher initial rating of 40 percent for degenerative arthritis, degenerative disc disease, lumbosacral strain, and scoliosis, but remanded the other issues.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for degenerative disc disease, effective November 21, 2022.
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