The reduction of the disability rating for cervical spine intervertebral disc syndrome from 30 percent to 20 percent was not proper, and restoration of the 30 percent rating is granted.,The reduction of the disability rating for carpal tunnel syndrome (right hand) from 30 percent to 10 percent was also not proper, and restoration of the 30 percent rating is granted.
The deciding factor: Both reductions were improper due to a lack of improvement in the Veteran's ability to function under ordinary conditions of life and work.,The reduction of ratings for both conditions did not reflect an actual improvement as evidenced by continued functional impairment, including pain, difficulty with lifting and carrying objects, and limitations on driving.
- Claimed conditions
- Cervical Spine Intervertebral Disc Syndrome, Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (Right Hand)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- August 6, 2019
- Citation
- 19160801
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 1,861 · Granted: 27% (granted or partly granted, in the vetted 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. Look up the original decision on VA.gov (opens in a new tab) using citation 19160801.
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.
- Granted
The Board granted separate 10 percent ratings for right and left carpal tunnel syndrome, a 20 percent rating for right upper extremity radiculopathy, a 20 percent rating for left upper extremity radiculopathy, and a 30 percent rating for cervical spine strain, all effective January 13, 2020.
- Granted
The Board has determined that the severance of service connection for left and right upper extremity radiculopathy was improper, as there is not clear and unmistakable evidence that the criteria for evaluating cervical spine intervertebral disc syndrome based on incapacitating episodes contemplates associated neurological manifestations. As a result, the Veteran's separate 20% disability ratings for bilateral upper extremity radiculopathy are restored.
- Denied
The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected lumbar myositis, psychoneurosis and conversion hysteria, residuals of shrapnel wounds of the left thigh and pelvis with retained foreign bodies and scars, and residuals of shell fragment wounds of the right thigh and left leg. The veteran was also denied entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for his service-connected coronary artery disease, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating based on the severity of his condition.
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