The veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied. The RO granted service connection for DDD of the lumbar spine and assigned a 10 percent initial rating, effective October 1, 2002.
The deciding factor: The VA examination reports did not show any neurological findings or incapacitating episodes that would warrant higher ratings under the applicable diagnostic codes. The veteran's symptoms were limited to pain, limitation of motion, and painful motion without other significant functional impairment.
- Claimed conditions
- Degenerative Disc Disease (DDD) of the Lumbar Spine, Degenerative Disc Disease (DDD) of the Cervical Spine, Right Shoulder Impingement Syndrome
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- July 16, 2008
- Citation
- 0823443
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. Search VA.gov for the original decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 0823443.
What this means for you
A final Board denial may be appealed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, generally within 120 days of the Board mailing date. A Supplemental Claim with new and relevant evidence is a separate option. Another Higher-Level Review of the Board decision is not available. Check your own notice: this historical decision does not set your deadline.
What you can do next
Use your own notice and decision stage. A remanded issue is not a final court-appealable denial. VA review guidance and CAVC filing instructions (U.S. federal; reviewed October 7, 2026).
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Board has granted service connection for a right shoulder disability, finding that the Veteran's current symptoms are related to his in-service injury.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's right shoulder disorder was denied service connection initially, but new evidence received after the March 2008 rating decision is relevant to this issue. The Board finds that a current diagnosis for right shoulder impingement syndrome exists and that it did not have its onset during service or otherwise be related to service.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Veteran was granted service connection for various conditions, but the appeal regarding an earlier effective date for benefits under the VA PCAFC related to a June 2023 application is denied.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has determined that the VA examinations and opinions provided do not comply with the remand directives. Therefore, another remand is necessary to obtain the requested retrospective estimates for the Veteran's right shoulder and lumbar spine disabilities.
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