The VA determined that the veteran's service-connected chronic cervical strain disability is currently evaluated at 20 percent, which was continued as of October 6, 1999. The evaluation does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.
The deciding factor: The VA found no evidence of severe limitation of motion in the cervical spine that would warrant an increased evaluation to 30 percent under Diagnostic Code 5290.
- Claimed conditions
- chronic cervical strain
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- January 15, 2003
- Citation
- 0300831
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 1,643 · Granted: 15% (granted or partly granted, in the vetted decisions on this site)
Judge attribution: 2025 complete; earlier years partial.
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 0300831.
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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the issue of entitlement to an increased disability rating in excess of 10 percent for service-connected chronic cervical strain due to a lack of adequate VA examination.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remanded the claims for a higher rating due to inadequate VA examinations. A new examination is required to assess the veteran's conditions during flare-ups and repeated use.
- Denied
The Board denied the veteran's claims for higher ratings for chronic cervical strain, chronic lumbar strain, and chronic left and right shoulder sprains prior to November 30, 2022.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for thrombocytopenia purpura and higher ratings for several other conditions due to lack of evidence or failure to attend scheduled VA examinations.
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