An increased disability rating of 20 percent for the service-connected back disability from August 21, 2009 to August 24, 2020 is granted.,An initial disability rating of 20 percent for the service-connected neck disability from February 13, 2008 to August 24, 2020 is granted. An increased disability rating higher than 20 percent for the service-connected neck disability from August 24, 2020, forward, is denied.,An initial 10 percent disability rating for the service-connected left hip disability (limitation of external rotation) from August 21, 2009 to August 24, 2020 is granted. An increased disability rating higher than 10 percent for the service-connected left hip disability (limitation of external rotation) from August 24, 2020, forward, is denied.
The deciding factor: The VA examination report showed thoracolumbar forward flexion limited to 75 degrees and a combined range of motion of 115 degrees with chronic low back pain resulting in abnormal gait or spinal contour.,The VA examination report showed cervical forward flexion limited to 45 degrees and a combined range of motion limited to 295 degrees with guarding or muscle spasm resulting in abnormal gait or spinal contour.,The VA examination report showed left hip flexion limited to 115 degrees, abduction to 30 degrees, adduction to 15 degrees, external rotation to 35 degrees, and internal rotation to 30 degrees during a flare-up due to pain, weakness, and lack of endurance.
- Claimed conditions
- Mechanical thoracic and lumbar strain with scoliosis and degenerative disc disease (back disability), Mechanical cervical strain (neck disability), Left hip disability, Right hip disability
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- December 17, 2020
- Citation
- 20079879
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 20079879.
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.
- Dismissed
Your appeal of the March 28, 2025 rating decision that deferred adjudication of your right hip disability claim has been dismissed.
- Dismissed
The Veteran withdrew the claims for psychiatric disability and sleep apnea.,Service connection was granted for right lower extremity radiculopathy and left lower extremity radiculopathy secondary to a service-connected back disability, but denied for right wrist disability.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for his lumbar spine and right hip disabilities due to a duty to assist error. The effective date for DEA benefits is granted as May 1, 2014.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for service connection for a right hip disability due to insufficient evidence regarding its etiology and pathophysiology, as well as the need for an appropriate toxic exposure risk activity (TERA) examination.
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