The veteran's initial evaluations for cervical spine degenerative joint disease and posttraumatic headaches were both granted, with the latter being rated at a compensable level of 10 percent.
The deciding factor: The VA examiner found that the veteran's subjective complaints of headaches warranted a 10% evaluation under DC 8045 (brain disease due to trauma).
- Claimed conditions
- cervical spine degenerative joint disease, posttraumatic headaches
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 10%
- Decision date
- January 27, 2005
- Citation
- 0501964
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 1,613 · Granted: 30% (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 0501964.
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 claim for a temporary total rating based on hospitalization or convalescence due to his service-connected cervical spine disability is remanded as the record does not include post-surgical follow-up treatment records from the University of Virginia Hospital.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for cervical spine degenerative joint disease and a back disability due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service. The case is being remanded for further examination and opinion regarding the claimed back disability.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for cervical spine degenerative joint disease and lumbar spine degenerative joint disease, including radiculopathy. The decision is based on the Veteran's reported in-service injuries and current medical diagnoses.
- Denied
The Veteran's posttraumatic headaches are currently rated at the highest schedular rating (50%) and no higher, as his symptoms do not meet or approximate the criteria for a higher evaluation. The appeal is denied.
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