The VA denied the Veteran's claim for a higher disability rating for his cervical spine disability, finding that it did not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 20 percent.
The deciding factor: The VA determined that the Veteran's cervical spine disability manifested by painful, limited motion did not result in forward flexion of the cervical spine being limited to 15 degrees or less, nor did it cause ankylosis or incapacitating episodes necessitating bed rest prescribed by a physician. The examiner noted that the Veteran had normal range of motion and no associated objective neurologic abnormalities.
- Claimed conditions
- Degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine with old compression fracture at C6
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- January 28, 2015
- Citation
- 1504099
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. Search VA.gov for the original decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 1504099.
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: Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including scheduling a VA examination to assess the current severity of his service-connected cervical spine condition.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for scheduling of VA examinations to determine the current severity of his cervical spine disorder. The claim will be reconsidered after these examinations are completed.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional examination and consideration of new evidence. The issue remains about an increased rating for his service-connected cervical spine disability.
- Whole decision: 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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