The Veteran's cervical spine disability has been rated at 20% since April 2020 and is now rated at 30% throughout the appeal period. The rating is based on forward flexion limited to 15 degrees or less, with no ankylosis.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's cervical spine disability has been found to have a functional equivalent of forward flexion limited to 15 degrees or less, which warrants a 30% rating under the General Rating Formula for Diseases and Injuries of the Spine.
- Claimed conditions
- Degenerative arthritis of cervical spine
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 30%
- Decision date
- January 20, 2026
- Citation
- A26004843
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 A26004843.
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.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for service connection for degenerative arthritis of cervical spine, left upper extremity radiculopathy, right upper extremity radiculopathy, and scar on neck as secondary to a lumbar spine disability due to an inadequate VA examination.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for an initial evaluation more than 20 percent for degenerative arthritis of cervical spine and more than 30 percent for right upper extremity (RUE) radiculopathy and carpal tunnel syndrome to ensure adequate examinations are conducted.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for degenerative arthritis of the right shoulder and cervical spine, finding that there is no persuasive evidence linking these conditions to service.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine and lumbar facet arthropathy with degenerative arthritis are being remanded due to a duty to assist error in failing to obtain an adequate examination prior to the June 2023 rating decision.
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