The Veteran's claim for service connection for a neck disability, including degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine, is granted. The Board found that his current condition is related to an in-service fall and supports this finding with medical evidence.
The deciding factor: The April 2016 VA medical opinion concluded that the Veteran’s neck injury is at least as likely as not incurred in or caused by his 25-foot fall during service, supported by his reported history of the injury, medical treatment, and current symptomatology.
- Claimed conditions
- Degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- June 27, 2019
- Citation
- 19150146
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 an initial disability rating of 30 percent for degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine but denied a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).
- Partly granted
The Veteran's cervical spine disability is granted a 30 percent rating, while the lumbar and lower extremity radiculopathy claims are denied. An earlier effective date for right lower extremity radiculopathy was granted, and TDIU based on single service-connected disability is remanded.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine and entitlement to total disability based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for a new VA examination to address whether the Veteran's degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine is secondary to his service-connected right shoulder disability.
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