The Veteran's cervical spine strain was granted a 30% rating effective January 30, 2020.,The Veteran's lumbar spinal arthritis with IVDS was granted a 40% rating effective September 20, 2017.
The deciding factor: The evidence showed that the Veteran's cervical spine strain worsened to manifest in forward flexion of the cervical spine to 15 degrees or less as testified by his January 30, 2020 Board hearing.,The evidence showed that the Veteran's lumbar spinal arthritis with IVDS worsened to manifest in a disability picture approximating forward flexion of the thoracolumbar spine to 30 degrees or less as testified by his September 20, 2017 notice of disagreement.
- Claimed conditions
- Cervical Spine Strain, Lumbar Spinal Arthritis with IVDS, Sciatic Radiculopathy of the Left Lower Extremity, Left Ankle Sprain
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 30%
- Decision date
- July 11, 2021
- Citation
- 21042021
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 21042021.
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 Veteran's PTSD, sleep apnea, hypertension, right MCA stroke with left-sided hemiplegia and major neurocognitive impairment, headaches, left ankle sprain, cervical sprain, and lumbar disc disease are all granted as secondary to service-connected conditions.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has determined that the decision on appeal is legally inadequate due to insufficient notification and an inadequately supported medical opinion. The case is being remanded for further action.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's service-connected cervical spine, bilateral shoulder, and right ankle disabilities are remanded for further evaluation. The Veteran also has claims for increased ratings for tension headaches and sinusitis, which are also remanded.
- Granted
The Board has granted restoration of the Veteran's ratings for his service-connected right and left ankle disabilities from 30% to 10%, effective November 1, 2020.
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