The Board denied service connection for a cervical spine disability and denied entitlement to an evaluation in excess of 40 percent for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine. The Board also denied entitlement to a total rating based on individual employability due to service-connected disabilities prior to November 22, 2010 and denied entitlement to an effective date prior to November 22, 2010 for the grant of basic eligibility for Dependents’ Educational Assistance (DEA) under Chapter 35.
The deciding factor: The Board found that there was no evidence showing a cervical spine disability began during service or is otherwise related to an in-service injury. The Veteran's current diagnosis of degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine is not considered as being proximately due to, or aggravated by, his service-connected degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine.
- Claimed conditions
- cervical spine disability, degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- August 7, 2020
- Citation
- 20052741
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 20052741.
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: Denied
The Board denied the claims of service connection for cervical spine and skin rash disabilities, finding that there is no evidence linking these conditions to active military service.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the claims for miscarriage, cervical spine disability, lumbar spine disability, and right elbow disability due to insufficient examination opinions and incomplete service history verification.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the claims for service connection for cervical and thoracolumbar spine disabilities due to a predecisional duty to assist error. The Veteran's past medical history needs to be considered in the new examination.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for sleep apnea and cervical spine disability due to potential service connection issues related to obesity, service-connected disabilities, and other factors.
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