The Veteran's thoracolumbar spine disability is rated at 20 percent prior to October 6, 2017 and at 40 percent thereafter. The cervical spine disability is rated at 30 percent from October 28, 2008 to July 26, 2019.
The deciding factor: The VA examinations showed significant limitation of motion in the thoracolumbar spine with an abnormal gait and pain on movement. The Veteran's disability was rated based on these findings under the General Rating Formula for Diseases and Injuries of the Spine.
- Claimed conditions
- Degenerative Joint Disease of Thoracic Spine
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 40%
- Decision date
- September 15, 2020
- Citation
- 20060641
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 20060641.
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.
- Denied
The Veteran's lumbar and thoracic spine disorders have been rated at 40 percent since December 21, 2009. The Board found the evidence did not support a higher rating due to lack of unfavorable ankylosis or incapacitating episodes.
- Denied
The Veteran's spine disability was found to not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 10 percent prior to August 30, 2012 and 40 percent beginning from that date. The current evidence did not show limitation of motion or muscle spasm severe enough to result in an abnormal gait or spinal contour.
- Denied
The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating in any of his service-connected disabilities.
- Partly granted
The veteran's claim for an effective date earlier than January 6, 1999 for the award of service connection for degenerative joint disease of the cervical and thoracic spine was denied. The rating assigned is 10 percent.
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