The Veteran's appeal was denied for increased ratings and an earlier effective date.
The deciding factor: The evidence did not meet the criteria for higher disability ratings or earlier effective dates.
- Claimed conditions
- Degenerative Arthritis, Cervical Spine, Radiculopathy of Left Upper Extremity, GERD and Hiatal Hernia, Craniotomy Scar, Arnold-Chiari I Malformation with Cervical Syringohydromyelia Status Post Suboccipital Craniotomy
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- September 13, 2013
- Citation
- 1329498
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 1329498.
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 Veteran's initial claim for anxiety disorder was granted and assigned a 30 percent rating effective December 18, 2019. The appeal is now remanded to determine if the Veteran warrants an increased rating.,Both issues of entitlement to higher ratings for degenerative arthritis, cervical spine and service connection for headaches secondary to this condition are also being remanded due to duty-to-assist errors.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claims for increased ratings of his lumbar and cervical spine disabilities were remanded due to lack of evidence showing the required limitations in range of motion or ankylosis.
- Granted
The Board has granted an effective date of March 28, 2009 for the grant of service connection for a cervical spine disability and radiculopathy of the right and left upper extremities. The earlier effective date was granted based on the Veteran's claim filed in March 2009.
- Denied
The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder is not rated higher than 30 percent.,The Veteran's neck condition does not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 30 percent.,The Veteran's radiculopathy of the left upper extremity prior to August 20, 2014 is not rated higher than 20 percent.
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