The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings for his thoracolumbar disability prior to June 17, 2019 and from June 17, 2019 is denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 10 percent prior to June 17, 2019 or in excess of 20 percent since then.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's thoracolumbar disability was characterized by painful limitation of motion and intervertebral disc syndrome with at least 6 weeks of incapacitating episodes during the past 12 months prior to June 17, 2019. From that date onwards, it was characterized by pain and limitation of motion; forward flexion of the thoracolumbar spine less than 30 degrees, favorable ankylosis of the entire thoracolumbar spine, or intervertebral disc syndrome with at least 6 weeks of incapacitating episodes during the past 12 months. The evidence did not show any other conditions that would warrant a higher rating.
- Claimed conditions
- Thoracolumbar Spine Disability
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- November 18, 2020
- Citation
- 20074102
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 1,948 · Granted: 29% (granted or partly granted, in the vetted decisions on this site)
Judge attribution: 2025 complete; earlier years partial.
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 20074102.
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- Remanded (sent back)
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