The Board granted a 40 percent disability rating for the Veteran's back disability, finding that it manifests as the functional equivalent of favorable ankylosis of the entire thoracolumbar spine.

The deciding factor: The evidence supports that the Veteran's back disability results in significant functional impairment during flare-ups, which is consistent with the functional equivalent of ankylosis under Chavis v. McDonough, 24 Vet. App. 1 (2021).

Claimed conditions

Back disability

How they argued it

Direct service connection

Exposure basis

None

Rating assigned

40%

Decision date

December 19, 2025

Citation

25015070

Want to see how appeals like this one tend to go? Appeals like mine