For the period prior to November 5, 2018, the Veteran's thoracolumbar strain with IVDS was rated at 40 percent.,For the period starting November 5, 2018, a higher rating for the Veteran's thoracolumbar strain with IVDS is denied.,The Veteran's cephalgia/occipital neuralgia has not been assigned a compensable rating.
The deciding factor: The evidence did not show unfavorable ankylosis of the entire thoracolumbar spine for the period prior to November 5, 2018.,For the period starting November 5, 2018, the Veteran's back disability produced pain and limited range of motion, including forward flexion limited to 10 degrees. This level of functional impairment is adequately contemplated by the 40 percent rating.,The Veteran reported experiencing prostrating attacks of headache pain but the frequency was not documented in his records.
- Claimed conditions
- thoracolumbar strain with intervertebral disc syndrome (IVDS), cephalgia/occipital neuralgia
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 40%
- Decision date
- January 9, 2020
- Citation
- 20002187
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 1,614 · Granted: 35% (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 20002187.
What this means for you
A partial grant means some issues were granted while others were denied or remanded — common in multi-issue claims. Look at which issues went which way, and how each was argued.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for thoracolumbar strain with intervertebral disc syndrome, sciatic radiculopathy of the left and right lower extremities due to inadequate medical opinions in previous examinations.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for left foot plantar fasciitis, thoracolumbar strain with intervertebral disc syndrome (IVDS), and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy are remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding functional loss during flare-ups and associated neurologic abnormalities.
- 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.
- 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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