The Veteran's low back disability is granted a rating of 40 percent, effective from June 19, 2015.,Service connection for insomnia secondary to the Veteran's low back disability is granted.
The deciding factor: The Veteran presented with significant functional impairment due to his low back disability, including pain and limited range of motion. His current rating reflects this severity. Service connection for insomnia was also established as it is a compensable disability caused by his service-connected low back disability.
- Claimed conditions
- Osteopenia, Residual partial T9 wedge collapse, status post compression fracture, thoracic spine with retrolisthesis and strain of the lumbar spine (low back disability)
- How they argued it
- Not specified
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 40%
- Decision date
- August 27, 2019
- Citation
- 19166490
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 1,913 · Granted: 30% (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 19166490.
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 claims for PTSD, infertility, osteopenia, and breast cancer are being remanded due to the need for further development.,Entitlement to a higher rating for PTSD is denied.
- Denied
The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his low back disability is denied. The effective date of SMC and DEA benefits based on permanent and total disability status is granted.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for skin cancer, Osteopenia, and bilateral hand tremors due to ionizing radiation exposure in service.,Reasonable doubt is resolved in favor of the Veteran on all three claims.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to insufficient medical opinions and potential TERA exposure. The appeals for service connection are not resolved.
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.