The Board has granted service connection for cervical spine disease as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected lower back disorder. The appeal for an increased rating of left knee degenerative joint disease was withdrawn.
The deciding factor: The private medical opinion supported by a rationale found that the Veteran’s cervical spine disease was caused by his lower back condition, leading to the grant of service connection.
- Claimed conditions
- Degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine, Left knee degenerative joint disease
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- December 31, 2019
- Citation
- 19197049
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 19197049.
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 Veteran's service-connected degenerative arthritis and IVDS of the lumbar spine is granted a 40 percent rating, while other claims for increased ratings are denied or remanded.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine, left and right upper extremity radiculopathy, as secondary to a service-connected lower back disability.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for further development and readjudication due to non-compliance with previous remand instructions.
- Partly granted
The Board granted increased ratings for intervertebral disc syndrome, left and right ankle disabilities but remanded the claims for other joint conditions due to insufficient evidence.
We are not the VA. Veterans’ Rights is an independent resource built for veterans. We are not the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, not part of the government, and not endorsed by any government agency.
This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.