The Board has determined that the Veteran's cervical spine and headache disabilities were not incurred or aggravated by service, including as secondary to his service-connected right and/or left shoulder disabilities. The medical evidence does not support a connection between these conditions and his military service.
The deciding factor: The VA examiners provided opinions concluding that the Veteran's cervical spine disability was due to age-related changes rather than being caused or aggravated by his service-connected shoulder conditions, and that his headache disability did not have any relation to his service-connected shoulder disabilities. The medical evidence does not support a connection between these conditions and his military service.
- Claimed conditions
- Cervical spine disability (degenerative disc disease and degenerative joint disease), Headache disability
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- March 6, 2017
- Citation
- 1706765
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. Read the original VA decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 1706765.
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: Granted
The Veteran's headache disability is granted as service-connected. The left foot condition and lung cancer claims are remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Board has granted readjudication of the previously denied claims for service connection for asthma, low back injury (including right lower extremity radiculopathy), neck disability, headache disability, and right ankle disability.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board found that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, thus denying his claim for TDIU.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for an eye disability and a headache disability as secondary to his service-connected hypertension. The Board found that there is no current diagnosis of these conditions.
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