The Board has determined that the Veteran's lumbar and cervical spine arthritis do not warrant evaluations greater than 20 percent, as they do not meet the criteria for such ratings under VA rating criteria.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's spinal conditions are currently evaluated based on their current manifestations of pain and limitation of motion without evidence of ankylosis or incapacitating episodes.
- Claimed conditions
- Lumbar Spine Arthritis, Cervical Spine Arthritis
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- December 20, 2011
- Citation
- 1146415
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. Read the original VA decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 1146415.
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: Granted
The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render her unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, and TDIU is granted.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims of PTSD, lumbar spine arthritis, right knee disorder, left knee disorder, and right foot disorder due to incomplete development as a result of the inability to verify the Veteran's current address. The Veteran was provided updated contact information but did not attend the VA examinations.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the cases for additional medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran's current DDD and lumbar spine arthritis, as well as bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy, are proximately caused or aggravated by his service-connected testicular cancer.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's claim for TDIU was denied prior to March 17, 2017 due to his service-connected orthopedic disabilities. From March 17, 2017, the Veteran has been granted a TDIU based solely on his service-connected orthopedic disabilities.,The Veteran is now eligible for SMC at the housebound rate since November 22, 2017 due to his combined rating of 100 percent and other service-connected disabilities independently ratable at 60 percent.
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