The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the Veteran's claims of service connection for cervical spine and lumbar spine conditions. However, the claim remains denied as there is no competent medical evidence linking these conditions to service or any incident therein.
The deciding factor: The evidence does not establish a direct link between the Veteran's current cervical spine and lumbar spine conditions and his military service.
- Claimed conditions
- Cervical Spine Condition, Lumbar Spine Condition
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- August 17, 2015
- Citation
- 1535038
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 1535038.
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: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to new and relevant evidence received, including VA examinations and opinions that tend to prove or disprove the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder. The cervical spine condition is denied as there was no in-service onset or chronicity.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has granted service connection for a right knee strain. The cases of cervical spine condition, left upper extremity nerve condition, left lower extremity condition (radiculopathy), right shoulder condition, and left shoulder condition are remanded for further development.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the issues of entitlement to an initial compensable disability rating for gastritis with duodenitis and service connection for a left thumb condition, lumbar spine condition, and breast cancer and female reproductive health conditions due to inadequate evidence and failure to ensure VA fulfilled its duty to assist in obtaining private treatment records.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board denied service connection for IBS, chronic fatigue syndrome, and increased ratings for bilateral foot conditions and bilateral hearing loss. The TBI, cervical spine, left knee, right knee, lower left extremity neurological condition, lower right extremity neurological condition, and neuropathy of the right ankle residuals were remanded.
Free starter guide for your own claim
Reading this because you were denied or under-rated? Get the plain-English next steps — your appeal options, the deadline that protects you, and how appeals like yours turn out. One email, no spam.
We will only use this to send the guide. No spam, unsubscribe any time. We never sell your information.
We are not the VA. Veterans’ Rights is an independent resource built for veterans. We are not the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, not part of the government, and not endorsed by any government agency.
This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.