The Board finds that the Veteran likely developed multilevel cervical spine DDD while in service, and grants entitlement to service connection for this condition based on a presumption of service connection.
The deciding factor: Competent and credible evidence indicates that the Veteran likely incurred cervical spine degenerative changes during his period of active duty training (ACDUTRA) from June 19, 2005, to July 3, 2005. The diagnosis of multilevel DDD was established by private X-ray in July 2005 and MRI in January 2008.
- Claimed conditions
- Cervical spine disorder, Left shoulder disorder, Headache disorder, Neurological disorder, Acquired psychiatric disorder, Sleep disorder
- How they argued it
- Presumptive (no nexus needed)
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- November 14, 2013
- Citation
- 1337140
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 1337140.
What this means for you
A grant means the Board agreed the veteran was entitled to the benefit. Decisions like this show the kind of evidence and arguments that tend to succeed for claims like it.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a low back disability and an increased rating for his acquired psychiatric disorder. The Board found that there was no evidence linking the current disabilities to military service.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a cervical spine disorder and psychiatric disorder due to incomplete information. The Veteran needs to provide his complete service personnel records, verify his alleged combat experience in Vietnam, and undergo VA examinations for both conditions.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a cervical spine disorder, finding that there was no evidence of a causal relationship between his current condition and his military service.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case for a determination on whether injuries sustained in a November 2001 incident were in the line of duty. The claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder is also remanded due to its interdependence with the line of duty issue.
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