The Board found that the reduction in the disability rating for degenerative arthritis of the thoracolumbar spine from 40 percent to 10 percent was proper based on improvement in the Veteran's condition.
The deciding factor: The evidence showed a material improvement in the Veteran's service-connected degenerative arthritis of the thoracolumbar spine, warranting a reduction in rating.
- Claimed conditions
- Degenerative Arthritis of Thoracolumbar Spine
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 10%
- Decision date
- June 10, 2019
- Citation
- 19144931
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 2,677 · Granted: 26% (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 19144931.
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.
- Granted
The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 50 percent, effective June 6, 2017. The Board also granted a TDIU prior to January 1, 2020, based on the combined effects of his service-connected disabilities.
- Granted
The Veteran's service-connected degenerative arthritis of the thoracolumbar spine, right and left lower radiculopathy caused his obesity, which in turn led to obstructive sleep apnea. The Board granted entitlement to service connection for obstructive sleep apnea.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations of his service-connected degenerative arthritis of the thoracolumbar spine and patellofemoral pain syndrome of the left knee are being remanded due to the need for additional development.
- Partly granted
The Veteran's service-connected adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood has been granted a disability rating of 70 percent, effective from February 22, 2013.,The Veteran's TDIU claim was also granted.
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