The Veteran's claims for a compensable disability rating and an initial increased rating for thoracolumbar degenerative disc disease, as well as his claim for total disability based on individual unemployability (TDIU), are dismissed due to the death of the Veteran.
The deciding factor: The appeal was dismissed because the Veteran died during the pendency of the appeal.
- Claimed conditions
- thoracolumbar degenerative disc disease
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- July 27, 2020
- Citation
- 20049700
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 20049700.
What this means for you
A dismissal means the Board did not decide the issue on its merits — usually because it was withdrawn or had become moot. It says more about procedure than about whether a claim like this can win.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Granted
The Veteran's service-connected conditions have caused him to be in need of regular aid and attendance, which has been granted for special monthly compensation (SMC).
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for thoracolumbar degenerative disc disease, finding the evidence to be in approximate balance regarding its relation to an in-service injury.
- Dismissed
The Veteran withdrew all pending claims and chose to pursue subsequently filed supplemental claims for the same conditions.
- Partly granted
The Board denied an earlier effective date for the veteran's back disability but remanded the case to reassess the rating.
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