The Board has granted an earlier effective date of May 25, 2017 for the grant of service connection for a cervical spine disorder (degenerative arthritis and loss of lordosis) as secondary to service-connected lumbar facet hypertrophy.
The deciding factor: The Board found that the Veteran had symptoms of loss of lordosis of the cervical spine since at least 2015, which was within one year of the May 25, 2017 intent to file a claim for compensation. The effective date is set as May 25, 2017, the date the Intent to File was received by VA.
- Claimed conditions
- cervical spine degenerative arthritis, loss of lordosis
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- February 18, 2021
- Citation
- 21008859
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 21008859.
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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has granted service connection for cervical spine degenerative arthritis. The claims for back pain and right upper extremity radiculopathy are remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, cervical spine degenerative arthritis, thoracic strain, right upper extremity radiculopathy, right knee degenerative arthritis and chondromalacia patella, left knee degenerative arthritis and chondromalacia patella, left ankle ganglion cyst and ruptured saphenous vein, and left great toe matrixectomy with a left medial foot scar. The Board found that the Veteran's conditions are related to his military service.
- Dismissed
The Board has dismissed the appeals for all claims of service connection, including those for bilateral flat feet, thoracolumbar spine degenerative arthritis, cervical spine degenerative arthritis, right CTS, left CTS, essential tremors, right ankle arthritis, right shoulder arthritis, and left knee arthritis. The appeal of sleep apnea was granted in a July 2024 rating decision.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his cervical spine degenerative arthritis is being remanded due to the need for another VA examination considering the Veteran's reported flare-ups.
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