The Board has granted an initial disability rating of 20 percent for degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine and a separate 10 percent rating for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, effective from the date of the grant of service connection.
The deciding factor: The VA examinations provided evidence that both conditions manifested with forward flexion to no less than 30 degrees due to symptoms including pain, tenderness, and muscle spasms, without resulting in abnormal gait or spinal contour. The Veteran's chronic headaches were also found to meet the criteria for a rating of 30 percent prior to August 4, 2009.
- Claimed conditions
- Degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine (neck), Degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine (back)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- November 10, 2015
- Citation
- 1547418
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 1547418.
What this means for you
A grant means the Board allowed the benefit or issue identified in this decision. Review the original order: other issues in the same appeal may have a different outcome, and this decision does not predict another claim.
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 claims for service connection for degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine, thoracolumbar spine, and left upper extremity radiculopathy due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error.
- Granted
The Veteran's neck condition and sinusitis are granted as service-connected.
- 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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