The Veteran's cervical spine disability is rated at 10 percent prior to March 7, 2017. Service connection for low back disorder, left knee disorder, and bilateral hip disorder are denied as secondary to service-connected disabilities.
The deciding factor: The evidence does not show an increase in the severity of the Veteran's cervical spine disability or establish service connection for his claimed conditions.
- Claimed conditions
- Cervical spine disability, Low back disorder, Left knee disorder, Bilateral hip disorder
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 10%
- Decision date
- November 10, 2020
- Citation
- 20072545
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.
- Denied
The Board denied the veteran's claims for annual clothing allowances for a left knee sleeve, A&D ointment, hydrocortisone cream, and incontinence briefs due to lack of service connection or evidence that these items cause irreparable damage to outer garments.
- Partly granted
The appeal was denied for service connection of a cervical spine disorder, and several claims were remanded for further development.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for low back disability, cervical spine disability, and right leg nerve disability as the evidence did not support a causal relationship between these conditions and the Veteran's active service.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for a low back disorder to correct duty to assist errors, as the previous VA examinations and opinions are inadequate.
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