The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for cervical DDD, finding that it is not caused or aggravated by his service-connected chronic lumbar fibromyositis and there is no evidence of a current injury in service. The decision also found insufficient medical nexus to establish direct service connection.
The deciding factor: The Board determined that the Veteran's cervical DDD is neither caused nor aggravated by his service-connected chronic lumbar fibromyositis, as well as lacking sufficient medical opinion to support a finding of direct service connection.
- Claimed conditions
- cervical degenerative disc disease (DDD)
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- April 16, 2020
- Citation
- 20026442
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. Read the original VA decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 20026442.
What this means for you
A final Board denial may be appealed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, generally within 120 days of the Board mailing date. A Supplemental Claim with new and relevant evidence is a separate option. Another Higher-Level Review of the Board decision is not available. Check your own notice: this historical decision does not set your deadline.
What you can do next
Use your own notice and decision stage. A remanded issue is not a final court-appealable denial. VA review guidance and CAVC filing instructions (U.S. federal; reviewed October 7, 2026).
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's cervical and lumbar spine disabilities, as well as their associated radiculopathy conditions, are remanded for further development. The fibromyalgia with headaches claim is also remanded due to a duty to assist error.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Board has granted service connection for cervical DDD and left and right upper extremity radiculopathy disabilities, both secondary to the Veteran's service-connected lumbar DDD.
- Whole decision: Partly granted
The Board dismissed claims for asthma, kidney cancer, chest pains, and rhinitis due to lack of adjudication. Claims for cervical DDD, shoulder strains, hip conditions, and foot conditions were remanded for further evaluation.
- Whole decision: Dismissed
The Board dismissed the appeal for an increased rating for myasthenia gravis and denied service connection for right ankle and foot disabilities. Service connection was granted for cervical spine stenosis, DDD, and DJD.
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