The Veteran's thoracolumbar spine disability was granted an increased rating to 20 percent, effective July 31, 2008. Service connection for a cervical spine disability was denied as not secondary to the service-connected thoracolumbar spine disability.
The deciding factor: Service connection for the cervical spine disability could not be established due to lack of evidence linking it to active military service or being caused by the service-connected thoracolumbar spine disability.
- Claimed conditions
- thoracolumbar degenerative joint disease, cervical spine (neck) disability
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- December 2, 2015
- Citation
- 1550551
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 1550551.
What this means for you
A partial grant means some issues were granted while others were denied or remanded — common in multi-issue claims. Look at which issues went which way, and how each was argued.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for cervical spine, right shoulder, left knee, and right knee disabilities due to inadequate medical opinions. The VA will obtain additional medical opinions that consider all relevant evidence of record, including the Veteran's lay statements.
- Granted
The Veteran's cervical spine, left and right upper extremity neurological disabilities, and headaches are all granted service connection. The back disability is remanded for further review.
- Dismissed
The Veteran withdrew his appeals for headaches, cervical spine disability, and lumbar spine disability. The Board dismissed these issues as a result.
- Granted
The Veteran's cervical spine (neck) disability, left shoulder disability, and migraines are granted service connection. The thoracolumbar and bilateral elbow disabilities are remanded for further examination.
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