The Veteran's thoracic degenerative joint disease (back disability) is currently rated at 10 percent prior to September 5, 2016 and 20 percent thereafter. The claim for a higher rating is denied.,Since September 5, 2016, the Veteran's right heel scar has been rated at 10 percent. The claim for a higher rating is also denied.
The deciding factor: The evidence does not support an increased disability rating due to lack of probative findings of forward flexion of the thoracolumbar spine greater than 30 degrees or favorable ankylosis of the entire thoracolumbar spine, unfavorable ankylosis of the entire thoracolumbar spine, or unfavorable ankylosis of the entire spine.,The evidence does not support a higher rating for the right heel scar due to lack of probative findings of forward flexion of the thoracolumbar spine greater than 30 degrees.
- Claimed conditions
- Thoracic Degenerative Joint Disease (Back Disability), Right Heel Scar
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- October 25, 2019
- Citation
- 19181390
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 1,455 · Granted: 23% (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 19181390.
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: Denied
The Veteran's right foot strain, right great toe ingrown toenail, and right heel scar have been rated at 10 percent each since October 18, 2016. The Board has determined that the evidence does not support a higher rating for any of these conditions.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's right heel scar and laceration with damage to the Achilles tendon insert are currently rated at 10 percent each, but he is seeking higher ratings.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected lumbar myositis, psychoneurosis and conversion hysteria, residuals of shrapnel wounds of the left thigh and pelvis with retained foreign bodies and scars, and residuals of shell fragment wounds of the right thigh and left leg. The veteran was also denied entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for his service-connected coronary artery disease, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating based on the severity of his condition.
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