The Board found that the rating reductions for left and right upper extremity cervical radiculopathy were not proper due to procedural errors, and thus restored the previous ratings.
The deciding factor: The reduction was improper because the Veteran was not notified of a proposed reduction despite his combined disability evaluation decreasing from 80% to 70%, which required notice under VA regulations.
- Claimed conditions
- left upper extremity cervical radiculopathy, right upper extremity cervical radiculopathy
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- June 11, 2025
- Citation
- A25051211
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.
- Partly granted
The Board restored the 50% rating for cervicogenic headaches and the 40% rating for right upper extremity cervical radiculopathy, effective February 1, 2025, as the reductions were not proper. The reduction of the left upper extremity cervical radiculopathy to 0% was upheld.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for service connection for bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome, left and right upper extremity cervical radiculopathy, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), and generalized anxiety disorder to correct pre-decisional duty to assist errors.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for special monthly compensation (SMC) based on aid and attendance/housebound status due to a lack of evidence showing that her service-connected disabilities rendered her in need of regular aid and attendance or housebound.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's appeal for higher initial ratings for service-connected right and left upper extremity cervical radiculopathy, finding that the evidence did not support a rating in excess of 40 percent.
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