The Veteran's thoracolumbar strain was evaluated at a 20% rating prior to July 23, 2010. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher evaluation.
The deciding factor: The VA examiners determined that the Veteran’s symptoms were more likely due to obesity rather than his service-connected thoracolumbar strain.
- Claimed conditions
- Thoracolumbar strain
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- January 10, 2019
- Citation
- 19102740
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.
- Granted
The Board granted an increased disability rating of 40 percent for thoracolumbar strain, restored the 50 percent disability rating for bilateral pes planus, and restored basic eligibility for Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) benefits.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for left and right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected diabetes. The Board also granted an initial 20 percent rating for thoracolumbar strain effective from February 8, 2010.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for further development and examination to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's psychiatric disorder, right middle finger injury, vaginal disorder, hemorrhoids, and thoracolumbar strain.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's appeal for an earlier effective date for a TDIU and dismissed the proposal to combine service connection for patellofemoral syndrome, right knee limitation of extension with residuals of right knee total arthroplasty.
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