The Veteran's cervical radiculopathy, right and left upper extremities associated with cervical spondylosis with disc disease, status post larninectomy, has manifested as subjective complaints of forearm paresthesias, lightning-like pain from the neck down to his arms, numbness and tingling sensation in his digits, and weakened grip due to slightly decreased muscle strength. The criteria for an initial rating in excess of 20 percent have not been met.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's symptoms do not meet or approximate the criteria for a higher rating under any applicable diagnostic code.
- Claimed conditions
- Cervical radiculopathy
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- May 5, 2016
- Citation
- 1618185
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 1618185.
What this means for you
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What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Granted
The Board has granted separate ratings of 30 percent for left upper extremity cervical radiculopathy and 40 percent for right upper extremity cervical radiculopathy, effective March 16, 2017.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to her service-connected disabilities, finding that she was not unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation consistent with her education and work history.
- Granted
The Veteran's ratings for cervical radiculopathy in both upper extremities were reduced from 40% and 30%, respectively, to 20%. The Board found that the procedural requirements for reduction of disability ratings were not properly followed and restored the original ratings.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the case for a new medical opinion regarding the Veteran's eligibility for PCAFC benefits due to insufficient reasoning in the previous decision. The claim will be reconsidered based on all available evidence, including lay statements and medical opinions.
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