The Board has granted service connection for multilevel cervical spondylosis and DDD. The low back disability claim is remanded as the VA examiner's opinion was insufficient.
The deciding factor: The August 2010 VA examiner did not address whether DDD of the lumbar spine pre-existed service and was aggravated by a period of ACDUTRA or active duty, nor did they provide an opinion regarding the right shoulder disability claim. The Board finds these opinions insufficient.
- Claimed conditions
- multilevel cervical spondylosis and DDD, DDD of the lumbar spine, shoulder impingement syndrome, rotator cuff tendonitis, subacromial bursitis, and a SLAP tear (right shoulder), left shoulder disability (secondary to right shoulder disability)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- February 24, 2015
- Citation
- 1507929
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 1507929.
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.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for DDD of the lumbar spine and remanded issues related to a left hip condition, colon cancer status post colon resection, and right foot and right hip conditions.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remanded the claim for service connection of a thoracolumbar spine disorder. The Veteran will undergo a new VA examination to determine the nature and cause of his condition.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected lumbar spine disability and associated left lower extremity radiculopathy due to inadequate VA examinations, lack of ankylosis assessment, and need for additional medical records.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for left shoulder strain, DDD of the lumbar spine, right knee strain, and a left knee condition. The conditions are found to have started during service.
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