The Veteran's claim for service connection of mild degenerative joint disease with degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine was denied. The effective date for the award of service connection for a cervical spine disability is September 1, 1996. The Veteran's left upper extremity radiculopathy and right upper extremity radiculopathy are associated with his service-connected cervical spine disability. Service connection for glaucoma has been granted.
The deciding factor: The evidence did not establish a direct relationship between the claimed conditions and active duty service, nor was there any indication of ankylosis or other factors that would warrant higher ratings.
- Claimed conditions
- cervical spine disability (status post C3-C4 diskectomy, facetectomy, and fusion), glaucoma, left upper extremity radiculopathy, mild degenerative joint disease with degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, right upper extremity radiculopathy
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- December 12, 2019
- Citation
- 19192549
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 2,084 · Granted: 20% (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 19192549.
What this means for you
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What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has granted service connection for cervical spine degenerative arthritis. The claims for back pain and right upper extremity radiculopathy are remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's eligibility for PCAFC benefits is remanded due to the AOJ's failure to address whether it is in the best interest of the Veteran to participate in the program. The Board finds that the Veteran has been in need of personal care services for at least six continuous months based on an inability to perform the ADL of bathing.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's TDIU and DEA claims are remanded due to insufficient evidence for a schedular rating, and the issues are inextricably intertwined.
- Dismissed
The appeal seeking to establish entitlement to special monthly compensation (SMC) is dismissed because the AOJ decision was merely implementing a Board's earlier effective date decision for service connection.
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