The Board has granted service connection for cervical degenerative disease with left radiculopathy (claimed as neck herniated disc C5-C6) and back herniated disc L4-L5 and degenerative disc L5-S1.,Both conditions are found to be related to the Veteran's in-service experiences, including heavy lifting and body strength workouts.
The deciding factor: The VA examiner provided opinions that the cervical condition was less likely caused by service due to lack of documentation in STRs. However, the Board considered the Veteran's lay statements and fellow service member's testimony regarding his in-service symptoms and injuries, finding them credible.
- Claimed conditions
- cervical degenerative disease, left radiculopathy
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- November 24, 2021
- Citation
- A21018806
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 A21018806.
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.
- Denied
The Board denied the veteran's appeal for a higher disability rating for several conditions, finding no clear and unmistakable error in the original 2012 rating decision.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remanded the veteran's claims for service connection and rating due to a procedural error in determining the validity of the substitute appellant.
- Dismissed
The Board has vacated its August 2024 decision and dismissed the appeals on ten issues due to procedural errors, including incorrect substitution of the appellant as a valid claimant.
- Granted
The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including lumbosacral strain, left and right radiculopathy, dorsal spine compression fraction, right shoulder tendonitis with impingement and osteoarthritis, type 2 diabetes, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.
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