The Veteran's back disability, characterized by forward flexion of the thoracolumbar spine to 30 degrees or less due to pain and other factors, has been granted a 40 percent rating effective January 17, 2018.
The deciding factor: The VA examination revealed that the Veteran’s back disability resulted in limited motion with forward flexion of 30 degrees or less, which meets the criteria for a 40 percent rating under the General Rating Formula for Diseases and Injuries of the Spine.
- Claimed conditions
- Degenerative Joint Disease of the Thoracic Spine
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 40%
- Decision date
- September 14, 2020
- Citation
- 20060251
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 20060251.
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.
- Dismissed
The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for various shoulder and back conditions have been dismissed due to the withdrawal of his claims.,His low back disability is rated at 40 percent, with symptoms approximating favorable ankylosis.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has corrected the effective date of an initial 40 percent rating for degenerative joint disease of the thoracic spine from March 14, 2007. The issue of a higher initial rating remains on appeal.
- Granted
The Veteran's back disability, specifically degenerative joint disease of the thoracic spine with mid-thoracic kyphosis, has been granted a 40 percent rating since October 28, 2016.
- Denied
The Veteran's service-connected back disability has not manifested to unfavorable ankylosis of the entire thoracolumbar spine or unfavorable ankylosis of the entire spine, thus preventing a higher rating.
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