The Veteran's cervical spine disability is rated at 20 percent, effective February 12, 2013. The Board finds that the evidence supports a higher rating based on limitation of motion but not ankylosis.
The deciding factor: The VA examinations provided consistent findings of forward flexion limited to 30 degrees with pain and extension limited to 40 degrees with pain, which do not meet the criteria for unfavorable ankylosis. The Veteran's symptoms are adequately described by his reported neck pain and stiffness.
- Claimed conditions
- Degenerative Disc Disease (DDD) and Degenerative Joint Disease (DJD) of the Cervical Spine
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- October 19, 2017
- Citation
- 1746575
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 1746575.
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
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Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
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- Denied
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