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Granted

The Board has granted service connection for cervical spine disability and denied an increased rating for left shoulder disability. The Veteran's current cervical spine disability is found to be related to his military service, while the left shoulder disability does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The deciding factor: The evidence supports a finding that the Veteran’s cervical spine disability is at least as likely as not caused by his military service, but there was no comparable evidence linking the current left shoulder disability to service.

Claimed conditions
multilevel cervical spine degeneration and spondylosis (cervical spine disability), left shoulder impingement syndrome and left shoulder acromioclavicular joint degenerative joint disease with left upper extremity muscle atrophy (left shoulder disability)
How they argued it
Direct service connection
Exposure basis
None
Rating
Not verified here — check the original decision
Decision date
July 15, 2020
Citation
20047400

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 20047400.

What this means for you

A grant means the Board allowed the benefit or issue identified in this decision. Review the original order: other issues in the same appeal may have a different outcome, and this decision does not predict another claim.

What you can do next

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