The Board denied service connection for an upper back condition and granted a 40% rating for intervertebral disc syndrome with degenerative arthritis, effective from March 23, 2010. The Veteran's claim for a higher rating prior to that date was also denied.
The deciding factor: The evidence did not establish a current diagnosis of an upper back condition or a nexus between the claimed disability and service.
- Claimed conditions
- Upper back condition, Intervertebral disc syndrome with degenerative arthritis
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- February 27, 2020
- Citation
- 20015007
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 20015007.
What this means for you
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What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claims for specially adapted housing and special home adaptation grant due to a lack of evidence showing that any service-connected disabilities result in loss of use of lower extremities or other qualifying conditions.
- Denied
The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and special monthly compensation were denied. The rating for intervertebral disc syndrome with degenerative arthritis was not granted above 20% prior to November 9, 2017, and above 40% thereafter. Ratings for right and left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy were also not granted above the assigned levels.
- Granted
The Veteran is granted a total disability rating due to individual unemployability (TDIU) and the issue of increased ratings for cervical degenerative disc disease is remanded.
- Granted
The Board has granted the Veteran's claims of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, intervertebral disc syndrome with degenerative arthritis, lumbosacral strain, traumatic brain injury (TBI), and left knee strain. The right shoulder disorder claim is denied.
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