The Board finds that the evidence is in equipoise as to whether the veteran's cervical spine degenerative disease is related to service, either by direct incurrence or secondary to a service-connected disorder. Service connection for cervical spine degenerative disease is granted.
The deciding factor: The evidence shows an approximate balance of positive and negative evidence regarding the question of whether the veteran's current cervical spine disability is etiologically related to his period of active service, either by direct incurrence or as secondary to a service-connected disorder (his thoracolumbar disorder).
- Claimed conditions
- cervical spine degenerative disease
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- May 23, 2006
- Citation
- 0615069
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 0615069.
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.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for cervical spine degenerative disease, cervical strain, left upper extremity radiculopathy, right upper extremity radiculopathy, and migraine and occipital headaches. Service connection was denied for bilateral pes planus, papillary thyroid carcinoma, status post partial left thyroidectomy, and left foot hallux valgus.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case for further development and evaluation of the Veteran's claims, including obtaining additional medical evidence and scheduling VA examinations to assess his service-connected disabilities.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for a left leg disability, cervical spine disability, and left elbow disability due to inadequate opinions in previous VA examinations. The Veteran is required to undergo additional examination(s) to determine if his disabilities are related to service.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for right lower extremity sciatica associated with the Veteran's service-connected lumbosacral spine strain, but remanded claims for service connection for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and sleep apnea.
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