The Board denied increased ratings for cervical spine degenerative joint disease, lumbar spine degenerative joint disease, and residuals of prostate cancer.
The deciding factor: The manifestations did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under Diagnostic Code 5242 due to forward flexion of the cervical spine being greater than 15 degrees but not greater than 30 degrees.
- Claimed conditions
- Cervical spine degenerative joint disease, Lumbar spine degenerative joint disease, Residuals of prostate cancer
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 30%
- Decision date
- August 16, 2010
- Citation
- 1030695
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 1030695.
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.
- Partly granted
The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and denied increased ratings for left shoulder, right knee, and left knee replacement conditions. However, the Board granted a 10 percent rating for the left knee scar and a 30 percent rating for the lumbar spine degenerative joint disease.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for a rating reduction and increased rating for prostate cancer, as well as the TDIU claim, due to the need for additional development of evidence.
- Denied
The Board denied an earlier effective date for service connection of residuals of prostate cancer, finding that the August 10, 2022 effective date is appropriate under the PACT Act.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for residuals of testicular, prostate, and lung cancer as the conditions were not incurred during a period of ACDUTRA and are not related to any in-service injury or disease.
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