The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations of his service-connected neck and back disabilities were denied as the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation under the applicable rating schedule.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's disability ratings are based on limitation or loss of motion, with no indication of any other theories of service connection such as exposure to burn pits, Agent Orange, Camp Lejeune, radiation, Gulf War Syndrome, or new and material evidence. The criteria for higher evaluations were not met due to the lack of incapacitating episodes or significant functional impairment.
- Claimed conditions
- Degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine (neck disability), Degenerative disc disease of the lumbosacral spine (back disability)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- March 25, 2011
- Citation
- 1112102
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 1112102.
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.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for a bilateral hearing loss disability and denied increased ratings for various disabilities, including left upper extremity radiculopathy, right knee tendinopathy, left knee tendinopathy, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), generalized anxiety disorder, degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine, degenerative arthritis of the right shoulder, degenerative arthritis of the left shoulder, and plantar fasciitis in both feet.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for service connection for a back disability to obtain thorough addendum medical opinions addressing secondary service connection, including aggravation.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for back disability, right hip disability, and left hip disability due to insufficient medical opinions. The Veteran's bilateral knee arthritis is alleged to have aggravated his current hip disabilities.
- Denied
The Veteran's neck disability is rated at 10 percent, which does not meet the criteria for a higher rating as of July 14, 2014.
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