The Veteran's claims for higher initial disability ratings for his cervical spine, low back, and right shoulder disabilities were denied. The appeals are based on the criteria set forth in VA's Schedule for Rating Disabilities.
The deciding factor: The evidence did not meet or approximate the criteria for any of the requested increased disability ratings.
- Claimed conditions
- Degenerative arthritis, cervical spine, Low back strain with arthritis, Degenerative arthritis, right shoulder
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- August 26, 2014
- Citation
- 1438131
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 1438131.
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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for a new medical opinion to address whether the Veteran's degenerative arthritis, cervical spine was aggravated by his service-connected degenerative disc disease lumbar spine.
- Denied
The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for degenerative arthritis, cervical spine as there is no evidence of a current disability that began during or was caused by military service.
- Granted
The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, in combination, precluded her from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment since June 8, 2019.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, finding it at least as likely as not caused by the Veteran's service-connected major depressive disorder. The claims for degenerative arthritis of the shoulders and cervical spine DDD are remanded due to lack of a VA examination. The claim for radiculopathy of the right upper extremity is inextricably intertwined with the cervical spine disability.
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