The veteran's initial disability ratings for degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine and lumbar strain with sciatic pain have been granted, but both conditions are rated at 10 percent. The rating has been increased to 20 percent effective April 9, 2008.
The deciding factor: The veteran's symptoms were found to meet the criteria for a higher disability rating of 20 percent as of April 9, 2008, due to limitation of motion in his cervical spine and lumbar spine that was not less than 30 degrees or more than 45 degrees.
- Claimed conditions
- Degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine, Lumbar strain with sciatic pain
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- November 5, 2008
- Citation
- 0838255
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 0838255.
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.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine, finding that there is no nexus between the current disability and active duty service.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to a duty to assist error, specifically regarding whether the Veteran's current conditions are aggravated by his service-connected DDD of the lumbosacral spine. The AOJ is required to obtain new medical opinions addressing this issue.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for cervical and lumbar spine disabilities prior to October 22, 2008 are being remanded due to the need for additional retrospective medical opinions.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine, finding that the evidence did not support a link between the condition and service.
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