BVA decisions by condition
Thoracolumbar spine limitation of motion: BVA grant rates and what wins
From 2017 to 2026, the Board of Veterans' Appeals decided a thoracolumbar spine limitation of motion issue in 751 decisions. It granted the thoracolumbar spine limitation of motion issue in 14.6% of them, below the 19.4% grant rate for all conditions, denied it in 30.0%, and remanded it in 55.9%. Counting only decisions on the merits (granted or denied), 32.8% were granted.
Decisions
751
2017–2026
Granted
14.6%
All conditions: 19.4%
Granted on the merits
32.8%
Granted ÷ (granted + denied)
Remanded
55.9%
Denied: 30.0%
Thoracolumbar spine limitation of motion outcomes by year
| Year | Decisions | Granted | Denied | Remanded |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 60 | 6.7% | 28.3% | 65.0% |
| 2019 | 90 | 8.9% | 27.8% | 64.4% |
| 2020 | 90 | 17.8% | 38.9% | 48.9% |
| 2021 | 79 | 11.4% | 26.6% | 63.3% |
| 2022 | 91 | 15.4% | 27.5% | 58.2% |
| 2023 | 83 | 13.3% | 19.3% | 63.9% |
| 2024 | 75 | 12.0% | 40.0% | 50.7% |
| 2025 | 97 | 24.7% | 30.9% | 42.3% |
Evidence in granted and denied thoracolumbar spine limitation of motion decisions
For each kind of supporting evidence: how often the Board granted the thoracolumbar spine limitation of motion issue on the merits when the decision mentioned it, compared with decisions that did not. These are associations, not causes, and evidence is recorded per decision, not per issue.
| In the record | Decisions | Granted when present | When absent | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Claimed as secondary | 74 | 70.0% | 31.7% | +38.3 pts |
| Positive nexus opinion | 73 | 64.4% | 27.9% | +36.5 pts |
| Private medical opinion | 191 | 48.1% | 25.8% | +22.3 pts |
| Favorable VA exam | 70 | 45.5% | 30.4% | +15.1 pts |
| Lay statement | 590 | 33.0% | 32.1% | +0.8 pts |
- The Board applied the benefit-of-the-doubt rule (38 CFR 3.102) in 72.7% of the decisions that granted thoracolumbar spine limitation of motion.
- The Board found the veteran's statements credible in 36.4% of grants and 9.8% of denials.
Negative evidence in the record
An unfavorable exam or a negative nexus opinion often sits in the same record as favorable evidence, and the Board weighs them against each other. So these rows show how often thoracolumbar spine limitation of motion was still granted when the record contained the negative item, not that the item helped.
| In the record | Decisions | Granted when present | When absent | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Negative nexus opinion | 272 | 38.5% | 30.1% | +8.4 pts |
| Unfavorable VA exam | 518 | 32.1% | 35.9% | −3.8 pts |
Why the Board granted or denied thoracolumbar spine limitation of motion
Most common reasons in grants
- Current diagnosis established6
- Caused by the service-connected disability4
- Forward flexion limited to 30 degrees or less3
- Forward flexion limited to 30 degrees2
- Flexion limited to 30 degrees2
- Criteria for service connection met2
- Already at the maximum schedular rating2
Most common reasons in denials
- Preponderance of the evidence against the claim15
- No current diagnosis12
- Service records negative or silent8
- No evidence of ankylosis6
- VA examiner: less likely than not related to service6
- No in-service complaints, treatment or diagnosis5
- Current diagnosis established5
- No severe muscle spasm or guarding4
Numbers are decisions that gave the reason. Reasons are short phrases extracted by AI from each decision; common wordings of the same reason are grouped. Benefit of the doubt is reported above.
Recent thoracolumbar spine limitation of motion decisions
Granted
Rating reduction improper due to inadequate VA exam; Lack of clear evidence of sustained improvement; Protection for ratings in effect for five years or more applied
Reduction improper based on evidence of worsening condition; January 2021 exam showed 50-degree flexion limit during flare-ups; January 2025 exam showed 40-degree flexion limit during flare-ups
Private examination found forward flexion limited to 20 degrees.; Board found evidence in approximate balance for 40% rating.; Resolving reasonable doubt in favor of the veteran.
Denied
No current diagnosis of upper back disability; No evidence of functional impairment; No complaints or treatments in service records
Failure to report for scheduled VA examination; No current diagnosis of chronic spine disability established; No evidence of functional impairment from reported pain
Forward flexion limited to 45 degrees after repeated use/flare-ups; No evidence of ankylosis; Did not meet criteria for 40% rating
Rules that apply to thoracolumbar spine limitation of motion claims
- 38 CFR 3.303
Principles of service connection
Read it in VA Law Explorer - 38 CFR 3.310
Secondary service connection and aggravation
Read it in VA Law Explorer - 38 CFR 3.102
Reasonable doubt (benefit of the doubt)
Read it in VA Law Explorer
Research your thoracolumbar spine limitation of motion case
Narrow by year, judge, evidence or secondary condition, read the decisions, and export a research memo.
How these numbers are calculated
- Rates count decisions in which the Board decided a thoracolumbar spine limitation of motion issue, by the outcome of that issue. Other issues in the same decision can have different outcomes.
- “Granted on the merits” leaves out remands and dismissals. “All conditions” is the grant share across every condition issue in the data.
- The data comes from CaseScribe's AI extraction of public BVA decisions (2017–2026) and can contain errors. It is updated automatically as new decisions are added.