The Board has determined that the Veteran's cervical spine and bilateral shoulder disabilities do not warrant a higher initial rating based on their current manifestations.
The deciding factor: The VA examinations conducted have shown no incapacitating episodes, gait abnormality, or impairment of motor skills, muscle function, or strength for the cervical spine. The right and left shoulders are also rated at 20 percent due to pain, limited motion, and arthritis confirmed by x-ray.
- Claimed conditions
- Degenerative Joint Disease (DJD) of the Cervical Spine, Pain and limited motion in the right shoulder, Pain and limited motion in the left shoulder
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- September 29, 2009
- Citation
- 0937057
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 0937057.
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: Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's right medial epicondylitis and cervical spine disabilities are being remanded for further examination to determine their current severity.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for cervical spine DJD and bilateral upper extremity neuropathy, finding no direct or secondary link to his military service.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has determined that there was not substantial compliance with previous remand directives regarding the rating for right medial epicondylitis and the rating for degenerative joint disease (DJD) of the cervical spine. As a result, these issues are being returned to the AOJ for further development.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's cervical spine condition is rated at 30 percent prior to May 20, 2019 and since then. The Veteran's left and right upper extremity radiculopathy conditions are each rated at 20 percent.
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