The Veteran's thoracolumbar spine strain is rated at 20% prior to October 30, 2016, and at 40% thereafter. The Board denied an increased rating for the condition.
The deciding factor: The medical evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating based on forward flexion limited to 30 degrees or less, or unfavorable ankylosis of the entire spine.
- Claimed conditions
- Thoracolumbar spine strain
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- January 11, 2019
- Citation
- 19103297
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 2,088 · Granted: 33% (granted or partly granted, in the indexed decisions on this site)
Judge attribution: 2025 complete; earlier years partial.
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. Read the original VA decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 19103297.
What this means for you
A final Board denial may be appealed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, generally within 120 days of the Board mailing date. A Supplemental Claim with new and relevant evidence is a separate option. Another Higher-Level Review of the Board decision is not available. Check your own notice: this historical decision does not set your deadline.
What you can do next
Use your own notice and decision stage. A remanded issue is not a final court-appealable denial. VA review guidance and CAVC filing instructions (U.S. federal; reviewed October 7, 2026).
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Veteran's initial rating for thoracolumbar spine strain is denied, with a current rating of 20 percent. The claim for higher staged ratings for cervical spine spondylosis remains pending.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for a 20 percent rating for her back disability is denied as there is no evidence of increased severity prior to the May 9, 2024 effective date.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has determined that new and relevant evidence has been received to support the Veteran's claims for service connection, but the claims are being remanded due to deficiencies in the medical opinions provided.
- Whole decision: Partly granted
The Board denied increased ratings for cervical and thoracolumbar spine strains, TMJ disorder, dermatitis of the face, right knee chondromalacia grade II with patellar tendonitis, medial meniscal derangement, and Baker's cyst, and bilateral hearing loss. However, service connection was granted for radicular pain paresthesia of the right upper extremity.
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