The Board has determined that the Veteran's compression fracture of the thoracic spine is service-connected as it was manifest during active duty and related to an in-service injury.
The deciding factor: The VA examiner provided a positive nexus opinion linking the current vertebral compression fracture to the Veteran's in-service injury, which was supported by other medical evidence.
- Claimed conditions
- compression fracture of thoracic spine
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- June 10, 2019
- Citation
- 19144548
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 1,886 · Granted: 24% (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 19144548.
What this means for you
A grant means the Board agreed the veteran was entitled to the benefit. Decisions like this show the kind of evidence and arguments that tend to succeed for claims like it.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's service-connected TBI with migraine headaches is alleged to have caused or aggravated his current left clavicle, rib, and thoracic spine disabilities. The VA examiner will be asked to determine if these conditions are at least as likely as not caused by or permanently aggravated by the service-connected TBI.
- Dismissed
The veteran's appeal to reopen his claim for service connection for a compression fracture of the thoracic spine was dismissed. The claim for revision of the March 1978 rating decision on grounds of CUE was also denied.
- Denied
The Board denied the veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for skin rash, pes planus (flat feet), compression fracture of thoracic spine, and COPD. The evidence did not establish a direct relationship between these conditions and service.
- Denied
The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for sterility, left knee injury, and spine disabilities. The denial of service connection was based on a presumption of herbicide exposure in Vietnam.
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.