The Veteran's service-connected cervical spine disability is currently rated as 10 percent disabling prior to February 3, 2009 and 20 percent disabling from that date. The Veteran's low back strain is currently rated as 10 percent disabling throughout the appeal period.,The Veteran's anterior neck scar is currently rated as noncompensable prior to February 3, 2009 and 10 percent disabling beginning on that date. The Veteran's seborrheic dermatitis is currently rated as noncompensable throughout the appeal period.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's cervical spine disability has been shown to result in a functional loss due to pain, which more nearly approximates forward flexion of the cervical spine restricted to less than 15 degrees. The Veteran's low back strain is not shown to have resulted in any incapacitating episodes or unfavorable ankylosis.,The Veteran's anterior neck scar has been shown to be a raised, keloidal, linear scar measuring 1.5 inches by 0.125 inches with pain on palpation and hyperpigmentation less than 6 square inches. The seborrheic dermatitis is not shown to have involved more than 5 percent of the entire body surface or more than 5 percent of the exposed areas affected.
- Claimed conditions
- Status-post C5 to C6 disc arthroplasty (claimed as C5 to C6 disc replacement, cervical neuritis C3 to C4, and radiculopathy bilateral upper extremities), Low back strain, Seborrheic dermatitis (claimed as skin rash)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 10%
- Decision date
- January 6, 2012
- Citation
- 1200455
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 1200455.
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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's hearing loss and low back strain claims are remanded for further evaluation. The hearing loss claim is denied, while the low back strain claim requires additional examination to determine its severity.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for low back strain, left shoulder, and supraventricular tachycardia (SVT) based on evidence showing a causal relationship to in-service events or injuries.
- Dismissed
The appeal is dismissed because the March 2020 rating decision, which granted service connection for a low back strain, was never issued and therefore not an appealable decision.
- Denied
The Veteran's initial rating for his service-connected low back strain was denied, as the current severity of his condition does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.
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