The Veteran's claim for service connection for DDD of the cervical spine and tinnitus was denied. The February 1993 rating decision regarding right knee disorder is considered final, and a CUE claim for that decision is also denied. Service connection for chronic orthopedic manifestations of lumbar spine DDD was denied with respect to the period from June 30, 2014 to April 19, 2015, and since April 19, 2015.
The deciding factor: The evidence did not support a finding that the cervical spine disorder had onset in service or was due to or chronically worsened by the service-connected lumbar spine disability. The tinnitus claim was granted as there was at least equipoise of evidence supporting its presence. Service connection for chronic orthopedic manifestations of lumbar spine DDD was denied as the weight of evidence did not support a finding that it had onset in service or was due to the service-connected lumbar spine disorder.
- Claimed conditions
- Degenerative disc disease (DDD) of the cervical spine, Tinnitus
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- October 19, 2018
- Citation
- 18143479
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 18143479.
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: Denied
The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are not related to his military service.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board denied the veteran's claims for a higher rating for PTSD and dismissed his appeals regarding increased ratings for tinnitus and a right hand disability due to lack of timely filing of Notice of Disagreement.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including GAD, MDD, bruxism, migraines/headaches, tinnitus, hip pain, iliotibial band syndrome, and leg stress fractures. The evidence does not support current diagnoses of these conditions during the appeal period.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including bilateral pes planus with hammer toes, hallux valgus and degenerative arthritis, sleep apnea, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and bilateral kidney cysts, rendered him unable to secure or follow gainful employment. The Board granted the TDIU based on these conditions.
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