The Board has determined that new and material evidence was presented to reopen the claim of service connection for a cervical spine disability. The Veteran's current diagnosis of cervical spine degenerative disc disease is considered etiologically related to his active duty service, with more weight given to the opinion from Dr. B. than the VA examination.
The deciding factor: The Board found that the evidence was at least in equipoise as to whether the Veteran’s cervical spine condition is etiologically related to his active duty service, and thus granted service connection for the disability.
- Claimed conditions
- Cervical Spine Degenerative Disc Disease
- How they argued it
- Reopened with new and material evidence
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- January 4, 2019
- Citation
- 19101067
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.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for a left hip disability, cervical spine degenerative disc disease, and thoracolumbar degenerative disc disease with arthritis. The right hip disability was denied.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for service connection for sarcoidosis as new and relevant evidence has been received since the previous denial.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for service connection for tinnitus to correct a duty to assist error, as the Veteran's lay statements regarding onset and continuity of symptoms were not adequately considered in the previous decision.
- Dismissed
The appeal for service connection for a left-hand condition is dismissed as the Veteran was granted service connection for mononeuropathy to the left hand fourth finger with parasthesia of skin in an October 2025 rating decision.
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