The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 20 percent for spondylolisthesis L5-S1 & L4 compression fracture, DJD, arthritis lumbar spine was denied. The case is also remanded for further examination and opinion regarding service connection for an unstable right hip and migraine headaches.
The deciding factor: The preponderance of the evidence indicates that the Veteran's service-connected thoracolumbar spine disability has not been manifested by pain-free forward flexion of the forward flexion of the thoracolumbar spine to 30 degrees or less, favorable ankylosis of the thoracolumbar spine, doctor-prescribed bed rest, or any associated objective neurologic abnormalities for which a compensable evaluation is warranted.
- Claimed conditions
- spondylolisthesis L5-S1 & L4 compression fracture, dJD (degenerative joint disease), arthritis lumbar spine
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- April 8, 2019
- Citation
- 19126549
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 2,548 · Granted: 31% (granted or partly granted, in the vetted 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. Look up the original decision on VA.gov (opens in a new tab) using citation 19126549.
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Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Granted
The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have prevented him from securing and maintaining substantially gainful employment, warranting a TDIU.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including a new VA spine examination and TDIU claim development. The Veteran's service connection claim for his back condition remains on appeal.
- Denied
The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected lumbar myositis, psychoneurosis and conversion hysteria, residuals of shrapnel wounds of the left thigh and pelvis with retained foreign bodies and scars, and residuals of shell fragment wounds of the right thigh and left leg. The veteran was also denied entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for his service-connected coronary artery disease, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating based on the severity of his condition.
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