The Veteran's claim for higher ratings for his cervical spine disability and TDIU was denied. The Board found that the disability did not meet or approximate criteria for a rating higher than 10 percent before December 4, 2009, and 20 percent from December 4, 2009.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's cervical spine disability did not result in forward flexion limited to 15 degrees or less, nor did it cause ankylosis or incapacitating episodes that would warrant a higher rating under the applicable VA guidelines.
- Claimed conditions
- C5-C6 degenerative disc disease with spondylolysis
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- November 12, 2020
- Citation
- 20072880
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 2,677 · Granted: 26% (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 20072880.
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.
- Granted
The Veteran's cervical spine disability is rated at 10 percent, effective May 26, 2004. From March 16, 2010 to April 17, 2015, the Veteran was granted a rating of 20 percent for left upper extremity radiculopathy associated with his cervical spine disability. The Board denied entitlement to TDIU as the Veteran's service-connected disabilities alone do not render him unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment.
- 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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