The Veteran's degenerative joint and disc disease of the cervical spine, claimed as chronic neck pain, is denied because there is no evidence that it began during service or is related to an in-service injury.
The deciding factor: The VA examiner found that the Veteran’s degenerative joint and disc disease of the cervical spine is less likely than not incurred in or caused by an in-service injury, including being struck by lightning.
- Claimed conditions
- degenerative joint and disc disease of the cervical spine, chronic neck pain
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- August 20, 2019
- Citation
- 19164614
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 19164614.
What this means for you
A denial is a starting point, not the end of the road. You can see why this claim fell short — and, if you are still inside the one-year window, the appeal lanes that may remain open to you.
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 chronic neck pain, sinusitis, right knee condition, left knee condition, and back condition due to inadequate medical opinions.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for service connection for various conditions to allow the AOJ to provide notice of the Veteran's right to a hearing and determine if additional evidentiary development is required.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for further development, including obtaining additional medical evidence and examinations.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for high cholesterol, TMJ, chronic neck pain, gallbladder removal, high blood pressure, inguinal hernia, chronic pain in both feet, left knee disability, and right knee disability as there was no evidence of a current disability or functional impairment that limits earning capacity.
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