The Veteran's cervical spine disability is rated at 40 percent, effective from June 10, 2008. The lumbar spine disability has been rated as 40 percent since that date. The ulnar radiculopathy of the left upper extremity and right lower extremity disabilities are each rated at 10 percent. Bilateral hearing loss is not service-connected.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's cervical and lumbar spine disabilities meet the criteria for a 40 percent rating under the General Rating Formula for Diseases and Injuries of the Spine, effective from June 10, 2008. The ulnar radiculopathy of the left upper extremity and right lower extremity each meet the criteria for a 10 percent rating.
- Claimed conditions
- Degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine, Degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 40%
- Decision date
- April 30, 2010
- Citation
- 1015916
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 1015916.
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.
- Dismissed
The appeal was dismissed due to the Veteran's death while it was pending.
- Granted
The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to obtain and maintain substantially gainful employment, thus granting a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine, left shoulder strain, and osteoarthritis of the left hip status post left hip replacement based on a nexus to the Veteran's military service as a Navy SEAL.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, finding a positive nexus to the Veteran's active duty service.
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