The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations and service connection were denied. The Board also found that the Veteran’s claim of a separate disability evaluation for his spine was remanded.
The deciding factor: The Board determined that the evidence did not support an increase in rating or service connection based on the criteria provided by VA regulations.
- Claimed conditions
- multilevel degenerative changes of the cervical spine, residual, fracture of the left transverse process, second lumbar vertebra
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- September 8, 2020
- Citation
- 20058887
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 20058887.
What this means for you
A denial is a starting point, not the end of the road. You can see why this claim fell short — and, if you are still inside the one-year window, the appeal lanes that may remain open to you.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for further development, specifically to obtain a VA examination that considers the ameliorative effects of medication on the Veteran's lumbar and cervical spine disabilities.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the issues of entitlement to an increased rating for multilevel degenerative changes of the cervical spine and residuals, fracture of left transverse process, second lumbar vertebra prior to May 22, 2013.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claim for service connection for an upper back/neck disability was denied in October 2007 due to lack of diagnosis and in-service event or injury. The Board has now reopened the claim based on new evidence, but remanded for further examination and opinion regarding service connection.
- Granted
The Board has determined that the Veteran's headaches are at least as likely as not caused by his service-connected traumatic brain injury, and thus grants service connection for this condition.
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