The Veteran's service-connected cervical and lumbar spine disabilities have been granted, but the ratings for these conditions remain at 20 percent.
The deciding factor: The most recent VA examination did not find any evidence of unfavorable ankylosis or incapacitating episodes that would warrant a higher rating.
- Claimed conditions
- Degenerative Disk Disease (DDD) of the cervical spine, Degenerative Disk Disease (DDD) of the lumbar spine
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- August 11, 2014
- Citation
- 1435669
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 1435669.
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 Board has remanded the cases for further development and readjudication due to unresolved issues regarding effective dates and service connection determinations.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has determined that the VA examiner's opinion is inadequate and requires further examination to address the Veteran’s lay statements regarding his service-connected back pain.
- Granted
The Board has granted the Veteran's application to reopen his claim for service connection of a low back disability and has determined that service connection is warranted based on continuity of symptomatology since service.
- Denied
The Veteran's increased ratings for cervical and lumbar spine disabilities were denied as the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under the applicable VA Rating Schedule.
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