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Granted

The Veteran's initial rating for IVDS with DDD/DJD of the cervical spine was granted at 20 percent from November 1, 2010 to May 14, 2015. From May 15, 2015 to present, a higher rating is denied.

The deciding factor: The Veteran's forward flexion of the cervical spine was limited to at most 20 degrees when considering weight-bearing, flare-ups, and pain, meeting the criteria for a 20 percent rating under the General Rating Formula for Diseases and Injuries of the Spine (General Formula).

Claimed conditions
IVDS with DDD/DJD of the cervical spine
How they argued it
Direct service connection
Exposure basis
None
Rating assigned
20%
Decision date
January 30, 2026
Citation
26001404

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 26001404.

What this means for you

A grant means the Board agreed the veteran was entitled to the benefit. Decisions like this show the kind of evidence and arguments that tend to succeed for claims like it.

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