The Board denied an initial disability rating higher than 20 percent for service-connected coccydynia, finding that the Veteran's forward flexion of the thoracolumbar spine was not to 30 degrees or less and did not result in unfavorable ankylosis. The Board also found no neurological impairment associated with her spine disability.
The deciding factor: The VA examination findings showed normal range of motion and no limitation of forward flexion, which does not meet the criteria for a higher rating under the General Rating Formula for Diseases and Injuries of the Spine.
- Claimed conditions
- coccydynia
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- May 23, 2019
- Citation
- 19139410
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 2,020 · Granted: 19% (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 19139410.
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.
- Dismissed
All appeals for higher initial ratings and service connection were dismissed as they were duplicative of previously addressed appeals or due to untimely filings.
- Dismissed
All appeals for higher ratings, decreased ratings, and service connection claims have been dismissed as the Veteran has already appealed these issues to the Board.
- Dismissed
All appeals for ratings in excess of the current ratings or service connection were dismissed due to impermissible concurrent elections.
- Partly granted
The Board denied service connection for 'burn ban' and granted an effective date of May 12, 2020, but no earlier, for the award of service connection for coccydynia. The Board also denied various rating claims.
Free starter guide for your own claim
Reading this because you were denied or under-rated? Get the plain-English next steps — your appeal options, the deadline that protects you, and how appeals like yours turn out. One email, no spam.
We will only use this to send the guide. No spam, unsubscribe any time. We never sell your information.
We are not the VA. Veterans’ Rights is an independent resource built for veterans. We are not the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, not part of the government, and not endorsed by any government agency.
This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.