The Board denied service connection for spondylosis and other residuals of the veteran's decompression and fusion surgery of the cervical spine, finding no evidence that this disability manifested during service or was related to active duty.
The deciding factor: The October 2005 and March 2007 VA examination reports were more probative as they excluded a link between the cervical spine disorder and the veteran's foot disorders, while other opinions provided loose associations without specific review of the claims file.
- Claimed conditions
- spondylosis and other residuals of decompression and fusion surgery of the cervical spine
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- April 15, 2008
- Citation
- 0812540
What this means for you
A denial is a starting point, not the end of the road. You can see why this claim fell short — and, if you are still inside the one-year window, the appeal lanes that may remain open to you.
What you can do next
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