The Board denied higher staged ratings for lumbar strain with degenerative arthritis and degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine, but granted an effective date of January 11, 2017, for special monthly compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1114(s).
The deciding factor: The evidence did not support higher staged ratings due to limited forward flexion and functional impairment.
- Claimed conditions
- lumbar strain with degenerative arthritis, degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- April 21, 2025
- Citation
- 25005348
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.
- Granted
The Board granted a 40 percent disability rating for the Veteran's lumbar spine disability since September 26, 2024.
- Partly granted
The Board denied service connection for several conditions, including spinal arthritis of the neck and intervertebral disc syndrome (IVDS) of the neck/upper back. However, tinnitus was granted, and a 20% rating was assigned for left lower extremity radiculopathy.
- Granted
The Board granted disability ratings of 40 percent for right shoulder impingement syndrome, 30 percent for left shoulder impingement syndrome, rotator cuff tear, and acromioclavicular joint osteoarthritis, 30 percent for degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine, 40 percent for degenerative disc disease of the thoracolumbar spine, and 30 percent for right knee patellar chondromalacia with degenerative arthritis, but not higher.
- Partly granted
The Board granted restoration of a 20 percent rating for the lumbar spine disability effective September 14, 2020, and denied increased ratings for other conditions.
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