The Veteran's initial 20 percent rating for degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine with cervical spondylosis is granted, and his bilateral foot disability other than left foot fracture residuals, to include pes planus, hallux valgus, and left foot arthritis, remains at a 10 percent rating. Separate ratings are granted for left foot arthritis (10%) and left foot hallux valgus (noncompensable).
The deciding factor: The Veteran's cervical spine disability more nearly approximates forward flexion to 30 degrees with consideration of functional impairment, warranting a 20 percent rating. The bilateral foot disability remains at a 10 percent rating as there is no evidence of severe flatfoot or pronounced flatfoot.
- Claimed conditions
- Degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine with cervical spondylosis, Bilateral foot disability other than left foot fracture residuals, to include pes planus, hallux valgus and left foot arthritis
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- May 18, 2020
- Citation
- A20008790
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 A20008790.
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 reduction of the rating for cervical spine disability from 30 percent to 0 percent, effective March 1, 2020, was improper due to lack of procedural compliance. The 30 percent rating is 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.
- Denied
The Veteran's service-connected musculoligamentous strain, right knee, is currently rated at 10 percent and the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted.
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