The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for her service-connected cervical spine disability was denied, and the Board found that a rating in excess of 10 percent is not warranted. The issue of service connection for a neurological disability of the upper and lower extremities remains pending.
The deciding factor: The VA examiner determined that there were no objective findings of numbness or other neurological symptoms related to her cervical spine condition, which was inconsistent with the March 2011 VA examination report where radiculopathy was noted. The Board found this discrepancy unexplained in the supplemental opinion provided by a VA physician.
- Claimed conditions
- Degenerative Disc Disease of the Cervical Spine with Chronic Strain, Neurological Disability of the Upper and Lower Extremities
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- October 12, 2012
- Citation
- 1235364
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 1235364.
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.
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- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD is granted as the evidence shows a current diagnosis of PTSD, an in-service stressor, and a medical link between the two.
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