The Board found that the reduction from a 40% to a 20% rating for cervical spine disability was not in accordance with the law and granted restoration of the original 40% rating.
The deciding factor: There is insufficient medical evidence showing improvement in the veteran's service-connected cervical spine disability.
- Claimed conditions
- degenerative disc disease and degenerative joint disease of the cervical spine
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- May 24, 2002
- Citation
- 0205079
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 0205079.
What this means for you
A denial is a starting point, not the end of the road. You can see why this claim fell short — and, if you are still inside the one-year window, the appeal lanes that may remain open to you.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Denied
The Veteran's claims for service connection for left wrist CTS, right wrist CTS, PTSD, tension headaches, and cervical spine disability were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a relationship between these conditions and the Veteran's active service.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral restless leg syndrome, cervical spine disability, and right hip disability due to incomplete examinations and clarification of certain diagnoses. The Veteran's statements regarding her medications and previous diagnoses need to be clarified.
- Granted
The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, and the criteria for entitlement to a TDIU are met.
- Denied
The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims have been denied as his appeals do not involve service connection issues, but rather focus on rating determinations and effective dates. The specific issues are related to increased ratings for various conditions and effective date determinations.
Free starter guide for your own claim
Reading this because you were denied or under-rated? Get the plain-English next steps — your appeal options, the deadline that protects you, and how appeals like yours turn out. One email, no spam.
We will only use this to send the guide. No spam, unsubscribe any time. We never sell your information.
We are not the VA. Veterans’ Rights is an independent resource built for veterans. We are not the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, not part of the government, and not endorsed by any government agency.
This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.