The VA examiner found that the Veteran's neck pain and arthritis are not related to his service-connected disabilities, including incomplete foot drop. The Board denied both claims for service connection.
The deciding factor: The VA examiner determined that the Veteran's cervical spine degenerative changes were more likely due to natural aging process rather than falls caused by his service-connected incomplete foot drop.
- Claimed conditions
- Neck Pain, Arthritis of the Cervical Spine
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- February 26, 2013
- Citation
- 1306591
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 1306591.
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.
- Dismissed
The Veteran requested to withdraw his appeal for the listed conditions, and the Board has dismissed the appeal as a result.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection related to degenerative joint disease, lumbar spine, lumbar canal stenosis; right knee condition; left knee condition; right shoulder condition; and neck pain are remanded due to duty-to-assist errors.
- Partly granted
The Board denied service connection for irritable bowel syndrome and posttraumatic stress disorder, but granted an effective date of February 4, 2024, for a 70 percent evaluation for PTSD.
- Granted
The Veteran's service-connected PTSD with anxiety and TBI results in total occupational and social impairment, leading to a 100 percent disability rating for PTSD effective April 1, 2017.
Free starter guide for your own claim
Reading this because you were denied or under-rated? Get the plain-English next steps — your appeal options, the deadline that protects you, and how appeals like yours turn out. One email, no spam.
We will only use this to send the guide. No spam, unsubscribe any time. We never sell your information.
We are not the VA. Veterans’ Rights is an independent resource built for veterans. We are not the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, not part of the government, and not endorsed by any government agency.
This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.