The Board has granted service connection for degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine and degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, finding that these conditions are related to active service.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's cervical and lumbar spine disabilities are linked to injuries sustained during active service based on medical evidence and credible statements from the Veteran and his spouse.
- Claimed conditions
- Degenerative Disc Disease (DDD) of the cervical spine, Degenerative Arthritis of the lumbar spine
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- December 6, 2019
- Citation
- 19191766
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 19191766.
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 issues of entitlement to an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent prior to December 26, 2007, and in excess of 20 percent thereafter for degenerative disc disease (DDD) of the cervical spine due to inadequate explanation of denial of higher evaluations.
- Denied
The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for his lumbosacral spine disability and TDIU prior to April 25, 2017 was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not show he was unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment due to service-connected disabilities.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the issue for issuance of a supplemental statement of the case (SSOC) addressing the propriety of the reduction in the disability rating and to readjudicate the increased rating claim.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claim for an increased rating in excess of 30 percent for his service-connected cervical spine disability is being remanded due to a pre-decisional duty-to-assist error.
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