The Veteran's cervical spine disability warrants a rating of 20 percent, effective February 20, 2013. Before this date, the disability was rated at 10 percent.
The deciding factor: The VA examiner found that the Veteran's forward flexion of the cervical spine had been limited to 20 degrees as of February 20, 2013, which approximated the symptoms associated with a 20 percent disability rating. The Veteran did not show ankylosis or other severe orthopedic manifestations prior to this date.
- Claimed conditions
- Cervical spine disability (neck disability)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- September 10, 2014
- Citation
- 1440387
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 1440387.
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 Veteran's claims for cervical spine disability and respiratory disorder due to inadequate medical opinions. The VA will need to provide a new examination and obtain an adequate opinion regarding the nature and etiology of these disabilities.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's neck disability is being remanded for a new VA examination to determine its etiology. His low back disability is also being remanded for an updated rating and his TDIU claim remains pending.
- Granted
The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection due to new and material evidence, but finds that there is no evidence of a cervical spine disability incurred in or aggravated by service.
- Denied
The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected lumbar myositis, psychoneurosis and conversion hysteria, residuals of shrapnel wounds of the left thigh and pelvis with retained foreign bodies and scars, and residuals of shell fragment wounds of the right thigh and left leg. The veteran was also denied entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.
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