The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for cervical degenerative disc disorder (DDD) is denied. A separate 20 percent rating for mild radiculopathy of the bilateral upper extremities associated with his cervical DDD is granted.
The deciding factor: The medical evidence does not support a rating in excess of 20 percent for DDD of the cervical spine, and there was no indication that the Veteran's radiculopathy was either moderate or severe.
- Claimed conditions
- Cervical Degenerative Disc Disorder, Radiculopathy
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- June 10, 2019
- Citation
- 19144676
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 2,162 · Granted: 21% (granted or partly granted, in the indexed decisions on this site)
Judge attribution: 2025 complete; earlier years partial.
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 19144676.
What this means for you
A grant means the Board allowed the benefit or issue identified in this decision. Review the original order: other issues in the same appeal may have a different outcome, and this decision does not predict another claim.
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 Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a back disability, finding that there was no evidence of chronicity or continuity of symptomatology since service and concluding that his current disabilities are more likely related to an in-service injury than to his military service.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's radiculopathy of the left and right lower extremities, based on sciatic nerve impairment, is granted with a disability rating of 40 percent effective from March 4, 2023. The Veteran's radiculopathy of the left and right lower extremities, based on femoral nerve impairment, is also granted with a disability rating of 20 percent effective from March 4, 2023.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him so helpless as to require the regular aid and attendance of another person, meeting the criteria for special monthly compensation based on the need for regular aid and attendance.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board denied restoration of the 30 percent and 20 percent ratings for radiculopathy of the left upper extremity and right upper extremity, respectively.
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