The Board has granted a 20% rating for the Veteran's degenerative disc disease of the thoracic and lumbar spine from December 28, 2010 to January 27, 2011. The claim for an increased rating prior to July 16, 2015 is denied.
The deciding factor: The evidence showed that during the period from December 28, 2010 to January 27, 2011, the Veteran's back disability most closely approximated a level of disability that warranted a 20% rating under DC 5242.
- Claimed conditions
- Degenerative disc disease of the thoracic and lumbar spine
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- August 5, 2020
- Citation
- 20051847
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 20051847.
What this means for you
A grant means the Board agreed the veteran was entitled to the benefit. Decisions like this show the kind of evidence and arguments that tend to succeed for claims like it.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for degenerative disc disease of the thoracic and lumbar spine, right lower extremity radiculopathy, and left lower extremity radiculopathy.
- Granted
The Veteran's back condition, which includes degenerative disc disease of the thoracic and lumbar spine, is granted a disability rating of 40 percent from January 23, 2012 to May 30, 2013. This decision resolves an earlier denial by the Board.
- Denied
The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for degenerative disc disease of the thoracic and lumbar spine, finding that there is no credible evidence linking his current condition to his military service.
- Granted
The Board has granted special monthly compensation (SMC) at the housebound rate since August 10, 2017 due to the Veteran's service-connected psychiatric disability. Prior to this date, SMC was denied as his other service-connected disabilities did not combine to reach a rating of 60 percent.
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