The veteran's service-connected cervical and lumbar spine disabilities have been rated at 20 percent each since May 1997. The RO has now increased the rating for cervical spine disability to 30 percent effective December 1996, based on severe intervertebral disc syndrome with intermittent relief.
The deciding factor: The VA examiner noted that from December 2000, the veteran's cervical spine disability manifested persistent neurologic symptoms appropriate to diseased discs and little intermittent relief of pain.
- Claimed conditions
- Degenerative Joint Disease (DJD), Degenerative Disc Disease (DDD)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 30%
- Decision date
- October 2, 2002
- Citation
- 0213424
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 0213424.
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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for degenerative disc disease and associated radiculopathy, as the record does not include all relevant treatment records prior to back surgery.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for a back disorder, including degenerative disc disease, degenerative arthritis, spondylolisthesis, and compression fracture at L2, as the evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were incurred in or aggravated by service.
- Partly granted
The Veteran was granted a 40 percent rating for degenerative disc disease (DDD) prior to April 18, 2024, but the claims for increased ratings for DDD from that date and for right ankle disability were denied.
- Granted
The Board granted an increased disability rating of 40 percent for degenerative disc disease and a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.
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