The Veteran's paraspinal muscle injury of the thoracic spine, degenerative changes of the cervical spine, and degenerative changes of the lumbar spine were all rated at 40 percent effective April 7, 2016. This was a reduction from noncompensable (0%) to 40%.
The deciding factor: The June 2016 rating decision assigned increased ratings based on medical evidence and findings provided by the VA examiners during the May 2016 examination.
- Claimed conditions
- paraspinal muscle injury of the thoracic spine, degenerative changes of the cervical spine, degenerative changes of the lumbar spine
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 40%
- Decision date
- December 19, 2024
- Citation
- A24085274
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 A24085274.
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.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for sleep apnea, right wrist sprain, left wrist disability manifested by pain, left foot arthritis, right foot arthritis and hallux valgus, headaches, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, degenerative changes of the cervical spine, right lateral epicondylitis (claimed as right arm disability), and left upper extremity cervical radiculopathy (claimed as left arm disability and left elbow disability).
- Dismissed
The Veteran withdrew the appeal for reductions in ratings for post operative left femur fracture with leg length discrepancy and chondromalacia residuals, and degenerative changes of the lumbar spine.
- Partly granted
The Board denied a disability rating in excess of 10 percent for left knee patellofemoral syndrome and denied a disability rating in excess of 20 percent or 30 percent for the cervical spine. However, it granted a separate 10 percent disability rating for left knee instability and a 20 percent disability rating for degenerative changes of the cervical spine prior to November 18, 2015.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for right shoulder, lumbosacral spine, right hip, and cervical spine degenerative arthritis based on new evidence. The claims for bilateral hearing loss, left wrist, and left forearm were remanded for further consideration.
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