The Veteran's service-connected back and neck disabilities have been rated as 10 percent disabling. The Board has determined that the evidence does not support a higher initial evaluation for either disability during the appeal period.
The deciding factor: The medical evidence did not show findings sufficient to warrant a higher rating under any applicable diagnostic code, including consideration of additional functional loss due to pain and other symptoms.
- Claimed conditions
- Degenerative disc disease and/or degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine (back disability), Degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine (neck disability)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- November 4, 2014
- Citation
- 1448930
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. Read the original VA decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 1448930.
What this means for you
A final Board denial may be appealed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, generally within 120 days of the Board mailing date. A Supplemental Claim with new and relevant evidence is a separate option. Another Higher-Level Review of the Board decision is not available. Check your own notice: this historical decision does not set your deadline.
What you can do next
Use your own notice and decision stage. A remanded issue is not a final court-appealable denial. VA review guidance and CAVC filing instructions (U.S. federal; reviewed October 7, 2026).
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board denied service connection for a bilateral hearing loss disability and denied increased ratings for various disabilities, including left upper extremity radiculopathy, right knee tendinopathy, left knee tendinopathy, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), generalized anxiety disorder, degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine, degenerative arthritis of the right shoulder, degenerative arthritis of the left shoulder, and plantar fasciitis in both feet.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Veteran's neck disability is rated at 10 percent, which does not meet the criteria for a higher rating as of July 14, 2014.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the cases for further development and examination due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the Veteran's neck and back disabilities.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Board has granted service connection for a neck disability and awarded a maximum 30 percent rating for IBS, finding that the Veteran's symptoms of severe alternating diarrhea and constipation with constant abdominal distress meet the criteria for these conditions.
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