The Veteran was granted an increased initial disability rating of 30 percent for a neck disability, and SMC based on the need for aid and attendance from April 27, 2013 to July 14, 2020. The claims for higher ratings for left and right upper extremity cervical radiculopathy were denied.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's neck disability manifested in symptoms which approximated limitation of forward flexion of the cervical spine to 15 degrees or less, warranting a 30 percent rating; however, there was no evidence of unfavorable ankylosis of the entire cervical spine or entire spine, preventing a higher rating. The radiculopathy did not meet criteria for a higher rating.
- Claimed conditions
- neck disability, 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
- October 9, 2025
- Citation
- A25087648
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 1,934 · Granted: 41% (granted or partly granted, in the vetted decisions on this site)
Judge attribution: 2025 complete; earlier years partial.
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 A25087648.
What this means for you
A partial grant means some issues were granted while others were denied or remanded — common in multi-issue claims. Look at which issues went which way, and how each was argued.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the claim for service connection of a neck disability due to pre-decisional error in not obtaining a VA examination and medical opinion.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for neck and back disabilities due to a lack of medical evidence supporting the Veteran's assertions. The VA will obtain an examination and provide an opinion on whether these disabilities are related to service.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for left leg shin splints, right leg shin splints, back disability, and neck disability due to insufficient evidence in the record regarding these conditions.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for neck and back disabilities, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are related to his military service.
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