The Board has granted service connection for cervical spine and left shoulder disabilities, but denied claims for increased evaluations. The veteran's cervical spine disability is rated at 20 percent, effective November 1, 1989. His left shoulder disability was initially rated at 20 percent from that date until December 1, 1997, when it was upgraded to a 30 percent evaluation.
The deciding factor: The veteran's cervical spine and left shoulder disabilities have been found to meet the criteria for separate evaluations of 20 percent each since November 1, 1989. The Board determined that his current range of motion does not warrant higher ratings under any applicable diagnostic codes.
- Claimed conditions
- Degenerative disc disease with arthritis of the cervical spine, Rotator cuff impingement with arthritis, synovitis and tendonitis of the left shoulder
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- February 14, 2001
- Citation
- 0104619
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 0104619.
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.
- Denied
The VA has determined that your degenerative disc disease with arthritis of the cervical spine does not warrant a higher initial evaluation than the current 20 percent rating.
- Denied
The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected lumbar myositis, psychoneurosis and conversion hysteria, residuals of shrapnel wounds of the left thigh and pelvis with retained foreign bodies and scars, and residuals of shell fragment wounds of the right thigh and left leg. The veteran was also denied entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for his service-connected coronary artery disease, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating based on the severity of his condition.
- Denied
The Veteran's service-connected musculoligamentous strain, right knee, is currently rated at 10 percent and the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted.
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