The Board has granted a 60 percent disability evaluation for the veteran's degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine with left shoulder radiculopathy and thoracic outlet syndrome, finding that his symptoms are most accurately characterized by the criteria set forth for this condition.
The deciding factor: The veteran's disability picture is characterized by chronic, constant neck pain, limited range of motion, and significant degenerative changes in the cervical spine. The VA examiner concluded that these symptoms align with the criteria for a 60 percent evaluation under Diagnostic Code 5293 (intervertebral disc syndrome).
- Claimed conditions
- degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine, left shoulder radiculopathy, thoracic outlet syndrome
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 60%
- Decision date
- August 16, 2000
- Citation
- 0021640
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 0021640.
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 disability ratings of 40 percent for right shoulder impingement syndrome, 30 percent for left shoulder impingement syndrome, rotator cuff tear, and acromioclavicular joint osteoarthritis, 30 percent for degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine, 40 percent for degenerative disc disease of the thoracolumbar spine, and 30 percent for right knee patellar chondromalacia with degenerative arthritis, but not higher.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for thoracic outlet syndrome, finding that the Veteran's symptoms began in service due to overuse of his arms during deployment.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for service connection for thoracic outlet syndrome to obtain an addendum opinion addressing whether the condition existed prior to service and, if so, whether it was aggravated by service.
- Partly granted
The Board granted an initial 30 percent disability rating for service-connected cervical strain from February 19, 2023 to September 17, 2023 and a 40 percent disability rating for right ulnar nerve radiculopathy. The claims for service connection for pectoralis minor injury and thoracic outlet syndrome were remanded.
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