The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and a total rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities, finding that her cervical spine disability did not warrant an increase beyond 20 percent, and her L5-S1 spondylosis with grade I spondylolisthesis did not warrant a compensable rating.
The deciding factor: The evidence showed no more than slight limitation of motion for both conditions, without any incapacitating episodes or objective neurologic manifestations. The veteran's subjective complaints were considered in line with her actual disability level.
- Claimed conditions
- degenerative joint and disc disease of the cervical spine, L5-S1 spondylosis with grade I spondylolisthesis
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- November 4, 2004
- Citation
- 0429780
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 0429780.
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.
- Granted
The Veteran's service-connected disabilities require regular aid and attendance of another person from October 26, 2017 through March 11, 2019 due to his inability to perform daily activities.
- Granted
The Veteran was granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities effective October 27, 2012. The decision is mixed as some issues were granted and others not.
- Denied
The Veteran's degenerative joint and disc disease of the cervical spine, claimed as chronic neck pain, is denied because there is no evidence that it began during service or is related to an in-service injury.
- Remanded (sent back)
The VA examiner found that the current examination for the cervical spine disability did not contain the required findings, and thus a new examination is needed to assess the severity of the condition.
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