The Board has determined that the Veteran's conditions are not related to VA care and treatment, and thus compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 is denied for degenerative joint disease of the cervical spine, balance impairment, and an eye condition.
The deciding factor: The medical evidence does not support a finding that the Veteran's conditions are due to VA carelessness, negligence, lack of proper skill, error in judgment, or similar instance of fault.
- Claimed conditions
- Degenerative joint disease of the cervical spine, Balance impairment, Eye condition
- How they argued it
- Not specified
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- March 19, 2020
- Citation
- 20020380
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 20020380.
What this means for you
A remand is not a loss. The Board sent the case back for more development — often a new exam or missing records — before making a final decision. Many remands later end in a grant, and the decision spells out exactly what the Board wanted to see.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for SMC based on aid and attendance from June 1, 2011, to May 24, 2017, finding that his need for regular aid and attendance was not established during this period.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has determined that the VA examiner's opinion regarding service connection for degenerative joint disease of the cervical spine is incomplete and requires further clarification. The case is being remanded to obtain an addendum opinion addressing whether the Veteran's current condition is related to his military service, including two claimed inservice collision injuries.
- Dismissed
The Board has dismissed the appeal as the appellant withdrew his intent to pursue eligibility for past-due fees based on an August 2025 Rating Decision.
- Granted
The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including insomnia, is granted. The respiratory and eye conditions are remanded for further evaluation.
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