The Veteran's cervical spine disability is rated at 20 percent, effective March 19, 2013. The increased evaluation was granted as the evidence showed that prior to this date, the Veteran did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under the General Rating Formula for Diseases and Injuries of the Spine.
The deciding factor: The VA examiner's report indicated that prior to March 19, 2013, the Veteran’s cervical spine disability did not manifest in forward flexion of the cervical spine less than 15 degrees or favorable ankylosis of the entire cervical spine. The evidence showed no incapacitating episodes other than during a period for which the Veteran was granted a temporary total disability rating due to surgery requiring convalescence.
- Claimed conditions
- osteoarthritis of the cervical spine with degenerative disc disease
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- February 23, 2015
- Citation
- 1507627
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 1507627.
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.
- Denied
The veteran's claims for increased ratings for cervical spine, lumbar degenerative disc disease, and thoracic spine disabilities were denied as the evidence did not show that his service-connected conditions warranted higher disability evaluations.
- Granted
The veteran's service connection for osteoarthritis of the cervical spine, lumbosacral spine, and thoracic spine was granted with initial ratings of noncompensable prior to specific dates, followed by increased ratings.
- 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.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for his service-connected coronary artery disease, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating based on the severity of his condition.
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