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 assigned
- 40%
- 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. Look up the original decision on VA.gov (opens in a new tab) using citation 0202957.
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 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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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