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
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- 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. Read the original VA decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 1139120.
What this means for you
A final Board denial may be appealed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, generally within 120 days of the Board mailing date. A Supplemental Claim with new and relevant evidence is a separate option. Another Higher-Level Review of the Board decision is not available. Check your own notice: this historical decision does not set your deadline.
What you can do next
Use your own notice and decision stage. A remanded issue is not a final court-appealable denial. VA review guidance and CAVC filing instructions (U.S. federal; reviewed October 7, 2026).
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Whole decision: 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.
- Whole decision: 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.
- Whole decision: 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.
- Whole decision: 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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