The Veteran's cervical spine disability is rated as 20 percent disabling, and her Raynaud's phenomenon is rated as noncompensable. The Board finds that the current ratings adequately reflect the severity of these disabilities.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's DDD of the cervical spine does not meet or approximate the criteria for a higher rating under any applicable diagnostic code. Her Raynaud's phenomenon has been evaluated as noncompensable due to lack of characteristic attacks and less than once per week attacks meeting the criteria for a compensable evaluation.
- Claimed conditions
- Degenerative Disc Disease (DDD) of the Cervical Spine
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- February 12, 2018
- Citation
- 1809085
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 1809085.
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 increased ratings for cervical spine disability with DDD and bulging disc were denied. The claim was also denied for a higher rating from April 14, 2020.,The Board found that the Veteran did not meet criteria for ankylosis or unfavorable ankylosis of the cervical spine, thus denying her request for increased ratings.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board denied a higher disability rating for the Veteran's cervical spine DDD and TDIU benefits, finding that the evidence did not meet the criteria for increased ratings or entitlement to TDIU.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's cervical spine degenerative disc disease and radiculopathy of the upper extremities are rated at 30 percent, effective September 7, 2020. The status post left shoulder rotator cuff repair is denied.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded several claims for further development, including those related to insomnia disorder, erectile dysfunction, chronic fatigue syndrome, blackout spells, DDD of the cervical spine, pinched nerve as secondary to DDD of the cervical spine, right carpal tunnel syndrome, and right shoulder disability. The Veteran's hypertension claim is also being remanded.
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