The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for cervical spine degenerative joint disease and hypertension, as well as service connection for a bilateral eye condition. The decision found that the Veteran's conditions did not warrant higher evaluations based on the criteria provided.
The deciding factor: The VA examinations indicated limited range of motion in the cervical spine but no ankylosis or other findings supporting a higher rating.
- Claimed conditions
- Cervical Spine Degenerative Joint Disease, Bilateral Cataracts
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- January 9, 2018
- Citation
- 1801128
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 1801128.
What this means for you
A denial is a starting point, not the end of the road. You can see why this claim fell short — and, if you are still inside the one-year window, the appeal lanes that may remain open to you.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Denied
The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU, finding that the evidence did not support higher ratings for his service-connected conditions.
- Partly granted
The Board denied a rating in excess of 70 percent for major depressive disorder and remanded claims for service connection, increased ratings, and TDIU.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for hypertension, headaches, bilateral cataracts, and left hand osteoarthritis as the evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were incurred in or aggravated by active service.
- Granted
The Veteran's service-connected conditions, including diabetes and stroke-related disabilities, have prevented him from securing or maintaining substantially gainful employment from July 1, 2019, to February 16, 2022.
We are not the VA. Veterans’ Rights is an independent resource built for veterans. We are not the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, not part of the government, and not endorsed by any government agency.
This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.