The Veteran's cervical spine disorder and psychiatric disorder are not service-connected as secondary to his service-connected lumbar spine disability. The claim for increased evaluation of the lumbar spine disability is granted.
The deciding factor: The VA examiner found that the cervical spine disorder was not caused or aggravated by the service-connected lumbar spine disability, and provided a competent opinion supporting this conclusion.
- Claimed conditions
- Cervical Spine Disorder, Psychiatric Disorder
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 40%
- Decision date
- October 20, 2011
- Citation
- 1139120
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 1139120.
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
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for a psychiatric disorder and female sexual dysfunction, finding that the Veteran's current diagnoses are at least as likely as not related to her military service.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding the onset and relationship of his psychiatric disorder, hypertension, and sleep apnea to his military service.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate VA opinion regarding whether a separate psychiatric disorder is superimposed on the Veteran's personality disorder. The case will be reviewed with a new examination to determine if there are any other service-connected conditions.
- Dismissed
The appeal for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder is dismissed as the Veteran was granted service connection effective from the date of his claim.,Service connection for bilateral tinnitus is denied.
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