The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development regarding his cervical spine disability, right and left upper extremity radiculopathy, diabetes mellitus (secondary), and aid and attendance.,The Veteran's service-connected disabilities are not rated higher than the current levels.
The deciding factor: The Veteran’s appeal is remanded as there are issues regarding his cervical spine disability, right and left upper extremity radiculopathy, diabetes mellitus (secondary), and aid and attendance that require further development to determine appropriate ratings.,There is no clear evidence of unfavorable ankylosis in the entire spine or cervical spine. The Veteran's range of motion does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.
- Claimed conditions
- Degenerative Joint Disease of Cervical Spine, Cervical Radiculopathy of Right Upper Extremity, Cervical Radiculopathy of Left Upper Extremity
- How they argued it
- Not specified
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- May 14, 2020
- Citation
- A20008585
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 A20008585.
What this means for you
A remand is not a loss. The Board sent the case back for more development — often a new exam or missing records — before making a final decision. Many remands later end in a grant, and the decision spells out exactly what the Board wanted to see.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Granted
The petition to reopen the claim of entitlement to service connection for PTSD is granted.,The petition to reopen the claim of entitlement to service connection for depression is granted.,The petition to reopen the claim of entitlement to service connection for degenerative joint disease, cervical spine is granted.,The petition to reopen the claim of entitlement to service connection for intervertebral disc syndrome, lumbar spine is granted.,The petition to reopen the claim of entitlement to service connection for hypertension is denied.,The petition to reopen the claim of entitlement to service connection for acquired psychiatric disorder (which includes PTSD and depression) is granted.
- Granted
The Veteran's rating for degenerative joint disease of cervical spine was reduced from 30 percent to 20 percent in September 2016. The reduction did not result in a reduction in his overall compensation rate, so the restoration of the 30 percent rating is granted.
- Granted
The Veteran's degenerative joint disease of the cervical spine is currently rated at 20 percent, effective January 6, 2020. Her degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine is currently rated at 40 percent, effective September 23, 2016.
- Denied
The Veteran's initial ratings for degenerative joint disease of the cervical spine and thoracolumbar spine have been denied as they do not meet the criteria for a higher rating.,The Veteran's COPD has been granted an initial compensable rating, but GERD remains rated at 10 percent.
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