The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations of his service-connected lumbar and cervical spine disabilities have been denied. The evaluation for the lumbar spine remains at 20 percent, while the evaluation for the cervical spine prior to February 29, 2012 is still at 10 percent.,For the period before February 29, 2012, the Veteran's cervical spine disability was rated as 10 percent disabling. However, starting from that date, it has been rated as 20 percent disabling.
The deciding factor: The evaluations for both lumbar and cervical spine disabilities do not meet the criteria set forth in the applicable rating codes.
- Claimed conditions
- Degenerative Disc Disease (DDD) of the lumbar spine, Degenerative Disc Disease (DDD) of the cervical spine
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- August 1, 2014
- Citation
- 1434339
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 1434339.
What this means for you
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What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has determined that there is a need for additional medical examination and opinion to address the Veteran's claim of service connection for a back disability, including DDD of the lumbar spine. The current VA opinions are deemed inadequate due to their failure to consider the Veteran's lay reports of in-service injury and continuous symptomatology since service.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for a VA examiner's opinion regarding whether his service-connected disabilities result in loss of use and if so, whether he requires aid and attendance without considering such disability/ies. The Veteran also needs to be considered for SMC R1 based on the need for regular aid and attendance.
- Denied
The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine was denied as his symptoms did not meet or approximate the criteria for a higher evaluation.
- Denied
The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine and bilateral hearing loss, do not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.
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