The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for various shoulder and back conditions have been dismissed due to the withdrawal of his claims.,His low back disability is rated at 40 percent, with symptoms approximating favorable ankylosis.
The deciding factor: The Veteran withdrew his appeals for increased ratings on record during a hearing before the Board. His low back disability manifests with forward flexion limited to 30 degrees or less without unfavorable ankylosis.
- Claimed conditions
- Degenerative Joint Disease of the Thoracic Spine
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- January 22, 2026
- Citation
- A26005853
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 A26005853.
What this means for you
A dismissal means the Board did not decide the issue on its merits — usually because it was withdrawn or had become moot. It says more about procedure than about whether a claim like this can win.
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 corrected the effective date of an initial 40 percent rating for degenerative joint disease of the thoracic spine from March 14, 2007. The issue of a higher initial rating remains on appeal.
- Granted
The Veteran's back disability, specifically degenerative joint disease of the thoracic spine with mid-thoracic kyphosis, has been granted a 40 percent rating since October 28, 2016.
- Denied
The Veteran's service-connected back disability has not manifested to unfavorable ankylosis of the entire thoracolumbar spine or unfavorable ankylosis of the entire spine, thus preventing a higher rating.
- Granted
The Veteran's service-connected thoracic spine disability has been granted a 20 percent rating for the entire period on appeal, with symptoms more nearly approximating forward flexion of the thoracolumbar spine greater than 30 degrees but less than 60 degrees.
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