The Veteran's initial claim for a rating in excess of 10% for degenerative arthritis of the thoracolumbar spine was granted. For painful abdominal scars, he received an initial 30% rating effective November 25, 2016, and his request for a higher rating is denied.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's pain in the thoracolumbar spine met the criteria for a 20% rating under Diagnostic Code 5242. For painful abdominal scars, he received a 30% rating effective November 25, 2016, based on his five or more painful scars.
- Claimed conditions
- Degenerative arthritis of the thoracolumbar spine, Painful abdominal scars
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- November 26, 2021
- Citation
- 21070789
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 21070789.
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 Board denied service connection for degenerative arthritis of the thoracolumbar spine as there was no evidence of an in-service incurrence or a relationship to service.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for an initial disability rating in excess of 20 percent for degenerative arthritis of the thoracolumbar spine and in excess of 10 percent for left and right lower extremity radiculopathy (sciatic nerve) to ensure compliance with the duty to assist.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine and thoracolumbar spine, resolving all reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.
- Denied
The Board denied an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for the Veteran's lumbar spine disability prior to August 28, 2017, and a rating in excess of 20 percent from that date.
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