The Veteran's increased ratings for cervical strain prior to September 28, 2010 and prior to March 9, 2018 are denied. The Veteran's increased rating for cervical strain from March 9, 2018 forward is granted at a 30 percent disability rating.
The deciding factor: The VA examinations and medical records do not support the need for an increased rating in excess of 30 percent for the Veteran’s cervical strain prior to September 28, 2010 and prior to March 9, 2018. The evidence shows that the Veteran's symptoms have remained consistent with a forward flexion of the cervical spine greater than 15 degrees but not greater than 30 degrees, or combined range of motion of the cervical spine not greater than 170 degrees.
- Claimed conditions
- Cervical strain
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- October 23, 2019
- Citation
- 19180818
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 1,030 · Granted: 17% (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 19180818.
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: Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claims for an initial disability rating in excess of 10 percent for cervical strain, service connection for left leg pain (claimed as joint pain), and service connection for a left ear hearing condition are being remanded due to duty-to-assist errors.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Board has granted service connection for cervical strain, low back disability, bilateral upper extremity peripheral nerve disability, and bilateral lower extremity peripheral nerve disability. The conditions are related to the Veteran's active service.
- Whole decision: Granted
Service connection for PTSD, to include depression is granted.,Service connection for blisters of bilateral feet is denied.,Service connection for cervical strain is denied.,Service connection for headaches is denied.,Service connection for right shoulder rotator cuff injury is denied.,Service connection for chest injury and lumbar strain are remanded.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's cervical strain and vitreous floaters have been granted service connection as they are directly related to his military service.
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