The Board has granted a 40 percent rating for lumbosacral disc disease with sciatica, effective from July 1997. The veteran's cervical spine disability is found to be service-connected as secondary to her in-service work as a medical assistant.
The deciding factor: The VA medical evidence shows that the veteran currently has degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine and had an anterior cervical diskectomy and fusion in May 1997. The March 1999 private examination also revealed bulging discs at C3-4 and C6-7, and the October 2000 independent medical evaluation diagnosed chronic neck pain, status post C6-7 anterior cervical diskectomy fusion with degenerative disc disease.
- Claimed conditions
- lumbosacral disc disease with sciatica, degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- April 1, 2002
- Citation
- 0202957
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. Search VA.gov for the original decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 0202957.
What this means for you
A grant means the Board allowed the benefit or issue identified in this decision. Review the original order: other issues in the same appeal may have a different outcome, and this decision does not predict another claim.
What you can do next
Use your own notice and decision stage. A remanded issue is not a final court-appealable denial. VA review guidance and CAVC filing instructions (U.S. federal; reviewed October 7, 2026).
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss are granted as service-connected. The Veteran's cervical spine disability is remanded for further examination to determine the current severity of his condition.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's service-connected disabilities require regular aid and attendance, which grants entitlement to special monthly compensation based on aid and attendance. The issue of entitlement to special monthly compensation at a housebound rate is moot due to the grant of aid and attendance.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have prevented him from securing and maintaining substantially gainful employment since June 30, 2018. The Board has granted a TDIU effective July 1, 2018.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for right foot plantar fasciitis, cervical spine degenerative disc disease, and left ankle fracture residuals are being remanded due to the need to obtain Social Security Administration (SSA) records.
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