The Veteran's cervical spine disability is rated at 20 percent, but the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted due to lack of evidence supporting limitation of motion or ankylosis.
The deciding factor: The VA examination findings do not support a finding of limitation of forward flexion to 15 degrees or less, nor does it present symptoms equivalent to ankylosis.
- Claimed conditions
- cervical spine strain, cervical stenosis, cervical spondylosis
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- October 16, 2018
- Citation
- 18142170
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 18142170.
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: Dismissed
The Veteran's appeals for various conditions and ratings have been dismissed due to the Veteran withdrawing from appellate consideration in December 2025.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for cervical spine strain, thoracolumbar degenerative disc disease and lumbosacral strain (back conditions), left lower extremity pain, right lower extremity pain, left shoulder strain, and right hip pain. The evidence does not show a nexus between these conditions and active duty.
- Whole decision: Dismissed
The appeal has been dismissed due to the Veteran's death while the appeal was pending.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has determined that new and relevant evidence related to the Veteran's claim for entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss has been received since the May 2023 rating decision. The claims of increased ratings for cervical spine strain, right shoulder arthralgia, right knee arthralgia based on limitation of flexion, left knee arthralgia based on limitation of flexion, and entitlement to a 40 percent rating, but no higher, for right knee arthralgia based on limitation of extension from October 28, 2024 to February 25, 2025 are remanded.
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