The Board denied service connection for a cervical spine disability due to lack of medical nexus between the Veteran's military service and his current condition.,The Board denied increased ratings for right shoulder tendinitis and left shoulder tendinitis as there was no evidence showing limitation of motion at 25 degrees from the side.
The deciding factor: The VA examiner found that the Veteran's cervical spine disability did not have a direct link to his military service, and the Board agreed with this finding based on the lack of in-service complaints or diagnoses.,For right shoulder tendinitis and left shoulder tendinitis, the evidence showed no limitation of motion at 25 degrees from the side as required for a higher rating under Diagnostic Code 5201.
- Claimed conditions
- Cervical spine disability, Right shoulder tendinitis, Left shoulder tendinitis, Lumbosacral strain
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- May 24, 2021
- Citation
- 21031822
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 21031822.
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Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Denied
The Veteran's service-connected cervical spine disability is rated at 20 percent, the maximum rating available under the General Formula for Diseases and Injuries of the Spine. The evidence does not support a higher rating as his range of motion did not meet the criteria for an increased rating.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for brain cancer, low back disability, and cervical spine disability due to a pre-decisional error in failing to obtain a radiation dose estimate from the Under Secretary for Health. The Veteran's military service aboard USS ENTERPRISE is considered relevant to his exposure to ionizing radiation.
- Granted
The Veteran's cervical spine condition had its onset in service and has continued since then, meeting the criteria for service connection.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and increased rating of his cervical spine, thoracolumbar spine, left shoulder, right shoulder, upper extremity neurological, and lower extremity neurological disabilities due to inadequate VA medical examinations in March 2019 and January-May 2016. The new examinations must consider the Veteran's reported onset dates for his symptoms.
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