The Veteran's cervical spine disorder is not found to be caused or permanently worsened by his service-connected low back disability. His low back disability, characterized by pain and limited motion but no ankylosis of the spine or incapacitating episodes, does not warrant a rating higher than 40 percent. The Veteran is competent for direct receipt of VA funds.
The deciding factor: The VA examiner found that the cervical spine disorder was not caused or permanently worsened by his service-connected low back disability and did not find evidence of ankylosis or incapacitating episodes, thus denying a higher rating than 40 percent.
- Claimed conditions
- Cervical Spine Disorder, Low Back Disability (Lumbar Spinal Herniated Nucleus Pulposus)
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- August 5, 2013
- Citation
- 1324795
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 1324795.
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: 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.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, left shoulder disorders, right shoulder disorder, cervical spine disorder, left ankle disorder, allergic rhinitis, and bilateral knee disorders, prevented him from securing or following substantially gainful employment consistent with his education and work history. The Board granted the TDIU claim based on these conditions.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to inadequate medical opinions provided in his VA examinations. The claims include tension headaches, a psychiatric disability (diagnosed as generalized anxiety disorder), a cervical spine disorder, hand tremors, a lumbosacral spine disorder, a gastrointestinal disorder, and residuals of a hydrocele.
- Whole decision: Dismissed
The appeal for PTSD is dismissed. The cervical spine and left middle finger disorders are remanded.
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