The Veteran's cervical spine DDD is currently rated at 20 percent, and the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted.,The Veteran's lumbar spine DDD is currently rated at 20 percent, and the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted.,The issue of TDIU prior to January 19, 2017, is remanded for further review.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's cervical spine DDD did not meet the criteria for a higher disability rating as his forward flexion was greater than 15 degrees and there was no ankylosis.,The Veteran's lumbar spine DDD did not meet the criteria for a higher disability rating as his forward flexion was greater than 30 degrees and there was no ankylosis.
- Claimed conditions
- Cervical spine degenerative disc disease (DDD), Lumbar spine DDD
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- October 5, 2021
- Citation
- 21061929
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 837 · Granted: 24% (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 21061929.
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.
- Denied
The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The TDIU was granted effective September 26, 2022.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for cervical spine DDD, left upper extremity radiculopathy, and right upper extremity radiculopathy due to inadequate examination reports and new evidence.
- Dismissed
The Veteran's appeals for service connection on the merits have been dismissed as he withdrew his claims for abdominal injury, tuberculosis, spots on the lungs, and kidney disorder. The remaining issues of cervical spine DDD, right shoulder neuritis, pelvis fracture residuals, right leg disorder, left leg disorder, right hip disorder, and left hip disorder were denied.
- Denied
The Veteran's cervical spine DDD and CAD were denied increased ratings.,Hypertension, hemorrhoids, and right foot fracture with gout were also denied increased ratings.
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