The Veteran's spinal cord injury and related issues, including loss of sensation from neck down, loss of temperature, loss of genital sensation, left upper extremity weakness, pain, and spasticity, and right upper extremity weakness, were caused by VA medical treatment. The event was not reasonably foreseeable.
The deciding factor: The spinal cord injury resulting in the Veteran's additional disability was a rare complication that could not have been reasonably foreseen by a reasonable health care provider.
- Claimed conditions
- spinal cord injury of C1-C4 levels, loss of sensation from neck down, loss of temperature, loss of genital sensation, left upper extremity weakness, pain, right upper extremity weakness, spasticity
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- August 26, 2020
- Citation
- 20056427
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 20056427.
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.
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The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD has been withdrawn by the appellant.,Service connection for pain secondary to a service-connected condition is denied. The Veteran does not have a current disability of pain that is related to service or a service-connected condition he is not currently compensated for.
- Granted
The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him so helpless that he requires the regular aid and attendance of another person, as evidenced by his need for assistance with bathing/showering, tending to hygiene needs, eating or self-feeding, transferring in or out of a bed/chair, dressing, toileting, ambulating with his home or living area, and medication management.
- Denied
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- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's eligibility for PCAFC benefits is being reviewed due to his service-connected disabilities. The Board has found the current decision inconclusive and requires a more detailed medical opinion.
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