The Veteran's service-connected residuals of a T4 burst fracture with neuropathic pain are granted at a 20 percent rating from May 18, 2010 to November 23, 2020 and increased to 40 percent thereafter.
The deciding factor: The VA examiner noted that the Veteran's back disability was productive of painful flare-ups and limited motion with forward flexion greater than 30 degrees but no greater than 60 degrees, with pain, fatigue, weakness, and lack of endurance. The next higher rating for limitation of motion based on some additional uncompensated limitation of flexion provided a basis for the increased rating.
- Claimed conditions
- T4 burst fracture with neuropathic pain
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- May 21, 2021
- Citation
- 21031451
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 21031451.
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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining a new VA examination to assess the Veteran's back disability and its impact on his upper extremities. The examiner is requested to provide opinions regarding the severity of the Veteran's back disability, whether he has a separately ratable neurological or muscle group injury as a manifestation of his service-connected T4 burst fracture with neuropathic pain, and the extent of any functional impairment during flare-ups.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including a new VA examination to assess the extent of his back disability and any related neurological or muscular symptoms. The AOJ should also obtain and associate with the claims file any outstanding treatment records.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's appeal is remanded for a more contemporaneous medical examination to assess the severity of his thoracic spine disability, including any neurological manifestations and muscle symptomatology. The examiner should also provide an opinion as to whether these symptoms are part and parcel of or in any way result from the service-connected T4 burst fracture with neuropathic pain.
- Denied
The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected lumbar myositis, psychoneurosis and conversion hysteria, residuals of shrapnel wounds of the left thigh and pelvis with retained foreign bodies and scars, and residuals of shell fragment wounds of the right thigh and left leg. The veteran was also denied entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.
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