The Board denied a claim for an increased rating for cervical spine motion loss due to scars, finding that the Veteran's symptoms did not meet or more nearly approximate the criteria for a higher disability rating. The Board also denied a separate claim for swallowing difficulty related to the scar, as it found no evidence of moderate esophageal stricture.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's complaints of swallowing difficulties were not described in terms that would warrant a 30 or 50 percent rating under DC 7203 (for moderate and severe disability respectively).
- Claimed conditions
- Cervical spine motion loss, Swallowing difficulty
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- February 2, 2022
- Citation
- 22005879
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. Read the original VA decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 22005879.
What this means for you
A final Board denial may be appealed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, generally within 120 days of the Board mailing date. A Supplemental Claim with new and relevant evidence is a separate option. Another Higher-Level Review of the Board decision is not available. Check your own notice: this historical decision does not set your deadline.
What you can do next
Use your own notice and decision stage. A remanded issue is not a final court-appealable denial. VA review guidance and CAVC filing instructions (U.S. federal; reviewed October 7, 2026).
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claim for an initial disability rating greater than 20 percent for complex partial seizures due to cerebrovascular accidents is denied.,The Veteran's claim for a compensable disability rating for swallowing difficulty associated with cerebrovascular accidents is denied.,The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for migraine headaches and TDIU are remanded.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran is granted specially adapted housing due to multiple service-connected disabilities, including the loss or use of the left lower extremity and residuals of organic disease/injury affecting balance and propulsion. The issue of a special home adaptation grant is dismissed as moot.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board finds that the Veteran's current right upper, left upper, and left lower extremity disorders are not causally or etiologically due to service, did not manifest to a degree of 10 percent or more within one year of discharge, and are not due to or aggravated by his service-connected poliomyelitis disability.
- Whole decision: 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.
Free starter guide for your own claim
Reading this because you were denied or under-rated? Get the plain-English next steps — your appeal options, the deadline that protects you, and how appeals like yours turn out. One email, no spam.
We will only use this to send the guide. No spam, unsubscribe any time. We never sell your information.
We are not the VA. Veterans’ Rights is an independent resource built for veterans. We are not the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, not part of the government, and not endorsed by any government agency.
This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.