The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his cervical and lumbar spine disabilities were denied as there is no evidence of unfavorable ankylosis, which would warrant a higher rating.
The deciding factor: The VA examinations did not find any evidence of unfavorable ankylosis in the Veteran's cervical or lumbar spine segments, even during flare-ups.
- Claimed conditions
- lumbar strain with degenerative disc and joint disease, cervical strain with degenerative disc and joint disease
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 60%
- Decision date
- August 5, 2023
- Citation
- 23043406
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 23043406.
What this means for you
A denial is a starting point, not the end of the road. You can see why this claim fell short — and, if you are still inside the one-year window, the appeal lanes that may remain open to you.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Denied
The Board denied the veteran's claims for earlier effective dates and increased ratings, as well as special monthly compensation based on housebound criteria.
- Granted
The Veteran's service connection claim for migraine headaches is granted. The Board finds that the evidence is in approximate balance as to whether current migraines are related to service, and thus grants service connection on a direct basis.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for additional development due to deficiencies in obtaining addendum medical opinions and conducting necessary examinations.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for additional development due to the need for addendum medical opinions and range of motion measurements.
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.