Service connection is granted for cervical and thoracolumbar spine disabilities, diagnosed as degenerative disc disease and degenerative joint disease, both believed to be related to service.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's spinal conditions are considered to have developed due to natural progression of rheumatoid arthritis rather than inservice motor vehicle accidents.
- Claimed conditions
- Cervical Spine Disability, Thoracolumbar Spine Disability
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- April 17, 2019
- Citation
- 19130296
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 remands the claims for service connection for GERD, OSA, a cervical spine disability, and a thyroid disability to obtain an adequate medical opinion.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for special monthly compensation based on the need for aid and attendance due to his service-connected disabilities, including bipolar disorder.
- Dismissed
The appeal for several conditions, including insomnia, hypertension, and various disabilities, was dismissed due to procedural issues.
- Partly granted
The Board denied a rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD and remanded claims for service connection for left shoulder, right shoulder, bilateral foot, left ankle, right ankle, and cervical spine disabilities.
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