The Veteran's cervical strain and associated residuals, including spondylosis and degenerative disc disease (cervical spine condition), are granted as service-connected.,Service connection is granted for sinusitis.,Service connection is granted for allergies and associated residuals, including chronic conjunctivitis (allergy condition).,Headaches are found to be service-connected.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's cervical strain was incurred during active duty service and the VA examiner did not find any other likely cause.,Service connection is granted as there is no evidence of a pre-existing sinusitis, and the Veteran has consistently reported having symptoms throughout her military career.,The private medical opinion supports that the Veteran’s allergy condition existed prior to service but was aggravated by active duty service. The Board finds it at least as likely as not that the Veteran's allergy condition is due to her service.,Headaches were found to have increased in severity during active duty service, and there is no evidence suggesting they are solely due to natural progression of the condition.
- Claimed conditions
- cervical strain, spondylosis, degenerative disc disease (cervical spine condition), sinusitis, allergies, chronic conjunctivitis (allergy condition), headaches
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- January 28, 2020
- Citation
- 20007150
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 service connection for headaches and increased ratings for left shoulder rotator cuff tear, right shoulder rotator cuff tear, hypertension, and left and right leg restless leg syndrome. The Board denied a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss and an initial rating in excess of 70 percent for posttraumatic stress disorder.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for asthma and remanded claims for insomnia and sleep apnea. Other conditions were denied.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for multiple conditions, including bilateral hearing loss and various musculoskeletal issues, as well as an initial rating in excess of 0 percent for rhinitis. However, the Board granted a 70 percent rating for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
- Partly granted
The Board granted higher ratings for the Veteran's service-connected carpal tunnel syndrome and cubital tunnel syndrome of both upper extremities, but remanded claims for service connection for sinusitis, calcified lymph nodes on the lungs, and cervical strain.
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