The Board denied service connection for a cervical neck disability, finding that the Veteran's current degenerative arthritis is not related to his military service and did not manifest within one year of discharge.
The deciding factor: The VA examiner provided an opinion stating that the Veteran’s cervical spondylosis was less likely than not related to service due to aging rather than any potential accidents or injuries in service, and attributed the Veteran's neck pain during service to nervous tension.
- Claimed conditions
- cervical degenerative arthritis
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- November 10, 2020
- Citation
- 20072573
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.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for thoracolumbar degenerative arthritis and lumbar intervertebral disc degeneration, cervical degenerative arthritis, left shoulder acromioclavicular joint degeneration, right hip strain, anxiety as secondary to the Veteran's back condition, and depression as secondary to the Veteran's back condition. The claims for service connection for a left knee condition and a right knee condition were denied.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for cervical degenerative arthritis, cervical radiculopathy of both upper extremities, thoracolumbar degenerative arthritis, and lumbar radiculopathy of both lower extremities based on the evidence showing that these conditions began during and have continued since service.
- Partly granted
The appeal was granted for service connection of left ear hearing loss and OSA, but denied for hepatic steatosis. Several claims were remanded.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for cervical degenerative arthritis and right and left upper extremity cervical radiculopathy for accrued benefits purposes, finding that the Veteran's neck manifestations began during and have continued since service and were at least as likely as not caused by service.
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