The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim of service connection for residuals of neck injury and finds that there is sufficient evidence to establish a direct relationship between his current cervical spondylosis with disc protrusion and his military service. The claim is therefore granted.
The deciding factor: A private physician provided an opinion linking the Veteran's current cervical spine disability to his in-service injury, while a VA examiner opined against this finding based on the lack of objective abnormalities at the time of discharge. However, the Board found Dr. Tall's opinion more probative due to its consideration of the Veteran's lay statements and accurate history.
- Claimed conditions
- residuals of neck injury, cervical spondylosis
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- May 13, 2015
- Citation
- 1520499
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. Search VA.gov for the original decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 1520499.
What this means for you
A grant means the Board allowed the benefit or issue identified in this decision. Review the original order: other issues in the same appeal may have a different outcome, and this decision does not predict another claim.
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 Veteran's appeals for various conditions and ratings have been dismissed due to the Veteran withdrawing from appellate consideration in December 2025.
- Whole decision: Dismissed
The appeal has been dismissed due to the Veteran's death while the appeal was pending.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has determined that additional medical opinions and records are needed to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims for service connection. The claims have been remanded.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's right and left knee patellofemoral disease with chondromalacia, cervical spondylosis, intervertebral disc syndrome, and spinal stenosis, finding that these conditions were incurred during service.
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