Service connection for cervical spine degenerative joint disease is granted as secondary to service-connected lumbar spine, hip and knee disabilities. TDIU prior to July 22, 2013 is granted.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's cervical spine disorder is causally related to his service-connected right shoulder, lumbar spine, left knee, and left hip disabilities.
- Claimed conditions
- Cervical spine degenerative joint disease (claimed as a neck disorder), Right posterior shoulder instability, L5 strain with spondylosis, Left knee iliotibial band syndrome
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- July 23, 2019
- Citation
- 19157163
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. Look up the original decision on VA.gov (opens in a new tab) using citation 19157163.
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 Veteran's claims for additional VA examinations to properly evaluate the current severity of her disabilities.
- Partly granted
The Board denied increased ratings for the Veteran's right shoulder and left thigh disabilities, but granted an evaluation of 30 percent from June 15, 2010 to May 25, 2017 for right posterior shoulder instability based on frequent dislocation and a separate evaluation of 20 percent from May 25, 2017 for the same condition.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional evaluations of her right and left knee iliotibial band syndrome. The combined evaluation for multiple noncompensable service-connected disabilities remains denied.
- Dismissed
The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for GERD is dismissed.,A 30 percent disability rating, but no higher, was granted for the service-connected posttraumatic migraine headaches before February 7, 2020. The Veteran is currently receiving the maximum allowable schedular rating for this condition.,For the period on appeal from February 7, 2020 onwards, a higher disability rating for the service-connected posttraumatic migraine headaches was denied.,A separate 10 percent disability rating, but no higher, was granted for left knee instability. The Veteran's left knee flexion is limited to no worse than 110 degrees with pain at full flexion and extension is to 0 degrees. There has been no evidence of ankylosis or semilunar cartilage dislocation.,Service connection was denied for the service-connected left shoulder, right shoulder, left hip, and right hip disabilities.,The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings for his service-connected posttraumatic migraine headaches is remanded. Service connection for TBI residuals as part of PTSD remains pending.,Service connection was denied for the service-connected left hip and right hip disabilities.,The matter regarding service connection for TBI residuals as part of PTSD is referred to the AOJ for clarification.
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