The Board denied a rating in excess of 20 percent for the Veteran's service-connected traumatic arthritis of the spine, finding that the evidence did not meet the criteria for an increased rating under either the General Formula or the IVDS Formula.
The deciding factor: The evidence did not demonstrate forward flexion of the thoracolumbar spine to 30 degrees or less, nor did it show incapacitating episodes with a total duration of at least 4 weeks but less than 6 weeks during the previous 12 months. The Veteran's symptoms were supported by pathology consistent with the assigned 20 percent rating.
- Claimed conditions
- Traumatic arthritis of the spine
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- July 9, 2020
- Citation
- 20045955
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 20045955.
What this means for you
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Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Dismissed
The Veteran's appeal for increased rating and TDIU prior to June 14, 2018 is dismissed due to his death.
- Granted
The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is service-connected due to in-service noise exposure. Service connection for PTSD and depression is granted, with the stressor of military sexual trauma (MST) being accepted based on corroborating evidence from other sources. The Veteran's traumatic arthritis of the spine is granted at a 20 percent rating effective May 14, 2014.
- 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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