The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims of service connection for headaches, neck disorder, and back disorder. The evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether these conditions are related to service, thus resolving all reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran. Service connection is granted for cervical spine degenerative joint and disc disease, lumbar spine degenerative joint and disc disease, and headaches. However, there is no evidence linking a bilateral leg disorder to service.
The deciding factor: The Board found that the Veteran's statements regarding his ongoing neck, headache, and back symptoms since an in-service automobile accident were credible based on their consistency with other evidence submitted on behalf of the Veteran. The November 2013 VA examiner diagnosed the Veteran with degenerative disc disease and degenerative joint disease of the cervical and lumbar spine, as well as headaches. The Board also found that there was an in-service incurrence of these conditions due to documented treatment for back pain and headaches during service. As no other cause led to the Veteran's ongoing symptoms throughout and after service, the Board concluded that the evidence is at least in equipoise regarding a nexus between the current disabilities and service.
- Claimed conditions
- Acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD), Headaches, Cervical spine degenerative joint and disc disease, Lumbar spine degenerative joint and disc disease, Bilateral leg disorder
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- June 1, 2016
- Citation
- 1621857
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 1621857.
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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for sleep apnea and acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD) due to insufficient evidence of record. The Veteran is required to undergo VA examinations to determine if his conditions are related to service.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for initial compensable ratings for obstructive sleep apnea and headaches, finding that the evidence does not support a finding of persistent daytime hypersomnolence or other manifestations consistent with a compensable disability rating under the criteria established by Diagnostic Codes. The matter is remanded to obtain additional information from the Veteran regarding his headaches and their impact on his daily life.
- Granted
The Veteran's OSA is granted as secondary to PTSD, but his headaches are denied due to lack of service connection.
- Granted
The Veteran's headaches, which manifested as very frequent and prolonged attacks causing severe economic inadaptability, are granted a 50 percent disability rating for the entire period on appeal.
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