The VA determined that the Veteran's current neck disability, diagnosed as degenerative joint disease, was not incurred in or aggravated by service. The Board found no evidence of a chronic condition during service and insufficient continuity of symptomatology post-service to establish service connection.
The deciding factor: The most probative evidence showed that the Veteran did not have any chronic residuals of his 1982 neck injury while on active duty, and there was an over two-decade gap between separation from service and first diagnosis of a neck disability at VA examination in 2011. The post-service medical records were negative for complaints or diagnoses related to the claimed disorder.
- Claimed conditions
- Degenerative Joint Disease (Cervical Spine)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- January 8, 2014
- Citation
- 1400780
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 1400780.
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: Denied
The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for a 30 percent disability rating for his cervical spine disability is denied. The Board found that there was no evidence of worsening in the one year prior to his May 7, 2019, claim for an increased rating.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus, prostate cancer, and an increased rating for other specified trauma- and stressor-related disorder. The Veteran's claims for service connection for degenerative joint disease of multiple joints were remanded.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's claims for service connection for COPD, cervical spine disability, radiculopathy (right and left upper extremities), posttraumatic residual degenerative joint disease of the right hip, posttraumatic residual fracture injury of right leg with impairment of right knee extension, obstructive sleep apnea, lumbar spine disability, and TDIU are all granted. The Veteran's cervical spine disability is rated at 30% from August 3, 2023 onwards.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case due to issues with the rating assigned for cervical spine degenerative joint disease and upper extremity radiculopathy, including failure to address certain evidence and lack of clear criteria for assigning ratings.
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