The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his service-connected degenerative disc disease (DDD) cervical spine was denied as the current evaluation of 30 percent is considered to be the maximum available under VA regulations.
The deciding factor: The disability has not significantly changed and a uniform evaluation is warranted, with no evidence supporting an increase in the assigned rating based on Diagnostic Codes or other criteria.
- Claimed conditions
- Degenerative Disc Disease (DDD) cervical spine
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- July 20, 2017
- Citation
- 1728320
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 1728320.
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 Veteran's initial disability rating for degenerative disc disease (DDD) cervical spine remains at 10 percent, as her range of motion does not meet the criteria for a higher rating under the General Rating Formula.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including radiculopathy, DDD cervical spine, bilateral hearing loss, and DDD cervical spine - left upper extremity, precluded him from securing and maintaining all forms of substantially gainful employment. The Board finds that the criteria for TDIU have been met.
- 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.
- Whole decision: 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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