The Veteran's cervical spine disorder and upper back disorder are not service-connected as there is no evidence of a chronic condition during active service or continuity of symptoms since separation.
The deciding factor: There is no medical evidence showing a chronic cervical spine disorder or upper back disorder during active service, and the weight of the evidence does not support a finding of continuity of symptomatology after service.
- Claimed conditions
- Degenerative spondylosis at C5-C6
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- May 21, 2012
- Citation
- 1217984
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 1217984.
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: Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's degenerative spondylosis at C5-C6, right hip CAM deformity with impingement, labral tear, and acetabular cyst, and left hip CAM deformity with impingement are granted. The issues of service connection for a right wrist disability other than carpal tunnel syndrome, a right arm disability other than right shoulder acromioclavicular joint osteoarthritis, right elbow medial epicondylitis, and right carpal tunnel syndrome, a left arm disability other than left carpal tunnel syndrome, and a left leg disability other than left lower extremity radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve and left knee tendonitis are remanded.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected lumbar myositis, psychoneurosis and conversion hysteria, residuals of shrapnel wounds of the left thigh and pelvis with retained foreign bodies and scars, and residuals of shell fragment wounds of the right thigh and left leg. The veteran was also denied entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for his service-connected coronary artery disease, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating based on the severity of his condition.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Veteran's service-connected musculoligamentous strain, right knee, is currently rated at 10 percent and the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted.
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