The VA has determined that the veteran's osteoarthritis of the neck with right shoulder pain does not warrant a rating higher than 10 percent, as it does not meet the criteria for more severe disability.
The deciding factor: The veteran's range of motion in the cervical spine is limited to 40 degrees forward flexion and 30 degrees extension, which falls within the criteria for a 10 percent evaluation under DC 5290. The medical evidence does not indicate any other conditions or manifestations that would warrant a higher rating.
- Claimed conditions
- osteoarthritis of the neck, right shoulder pain
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 10%
- Decision date
- February 27, 2003
- Citation
- 0303428
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 0303428.
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
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Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
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- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for PTSD and an initial 20 percent rating for dry eye syndrome with pinguecula, while denying service connection for other psychiatric disorders, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and multiple musculoskeletal conditions. Some claims were remanded for further development.
- Denied
The Board denied the veteran's claims for an initial compensable rating for hypertension, service connection for sleep apnea as secondary to PTSD, and a total disability rating based on individual unemployability. The claims for service connection for left shoulder tendonitis, right shoulder pain, and lumbar spine disease were remanded.
- Partly granted
The Board denied service connection for anxiety with depression and remanded the claims for back pain, left shoulder pain, and right shoulder pain for further development.
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