The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for neck disabilities, including herniated discs and Klippel-Feil syndrome, as secondary to his service-connected left knee disability. The decision also granted TDIU based on the Veteran’s combined rating of 70% due to multiple service-connected conditions.
The deciding factor: The Board found that there was no medical evidence establishing a direct causal relationship between the Veteran's neck disabilities and his service-connected left knee disability, and thus denied service connection. The decision also noted that the Veteran met the criteria for TDIU based on his combined rating of 70% due to multiple service-connected conditions.
- Claimed conditions
- neck disabilities, herniated discs, Klippel-Feil syndrome
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- April 10, 2019
- Citation
- 19127875
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 439 · Granted: 19% (granted or partly granted, in the indexed decisions on this site)
Judge attribution: 2025 complete; earlier years partial.
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 19127875.
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: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for left knee disability and herniated discs due to insufficient development, including obtaining VA examinations and opinions regarding the etiology of these conditions.
- Whole decision: Dismissed
The Board dismissed the Veteran's claim for service connection for lumbosacral strain, to include herniated discs and lumbar surgery due to an untimely Notice of Disagreement.
- Whole decision: Denied
The appeal of a timely request for Higher-Level Review of the Veteran's entitlement to service connection for his claimed back and neck disabilities is denied.
- Whole decision: Partly granted
The veteran's appeal for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) was granted starting from December 31, 2015. The issue of TDIU prior to this date was remanded.
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