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
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- May 23, 2019
- Citation
- 19139410
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 2,020 · Granted: 19% (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 19139410.
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: 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.
- Whole decision: 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.
- Whole decision: Dismissed
All appeals for ratings in excess of the current ratings or service connection were dismissed due to impermissible concurrent elections.
- Whole decision: 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.
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