The Veteran's cervical spine disability resulted in a combined range of motion not exceeding 170 degrees and no muscle spasm or guarding severe enough to result in an abnormal gait or spinal contour. The Veteran was granted initial ratings for radiculopathy of the right and left upper extremities.,From June 14, 2016 onwards, the Veteran's cervical spine disability resulted in forward flexion not exceeding 30 degrees and no muscle spasm or guarding severe enough to result in an abnormal gait or spinal contour. The Veteran was granted a higher rating for her cervical spine disability.
The deciding factor: The evidence showed that the Veteran's cervical spine disability did not meet the criteria for a higher rating prior to June 14, 2016 and from June 14, 2016 onwards.
- Claimed conditions
- Degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- March 15, 2018
- Citation
- 1816365
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 1816365.
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
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine, finding that there is no nexus between the current disability and active duty service.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to a duty to assist error, specifically regarding whether the Veteran's current conditions are aggravated by his service-connected DDD of the lumbosacral spine. The AOJ is required to obtain new medical opinions addressing this issue.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for cervical and lumbar spine disabilities prior to October 22, 2008 are being remanded due to the need for additional retrospective medical opinions.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine, finding that the evidence did not support a link between the condition and service.
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