The Veteran's cervical spine strain, right knee instability, right elbow olecranon bursitis and DJD, migraine headaches, and left foot sprain with hallux valgus, arthritis, and pes planus have been granted or maintained. Service connection for these conditions is established through a direct link to service without any presumption of exposure.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's cervical spine strain was found to be manifested by symptoms including pain but not severe enough to result in abnormal gait, scoliosis, reversed lordosis, or abnormal kyphosis. The neurological abnormalities affecting the upper extremities were also found to be moderate and associated with service-connected cervical strain. Right knee instability and right elbow olecranon bursitis and DJD have been rated based on their respective symptoms. Migraine headaches have been rated based on their frequency of prostrating attacks, which met the criteria for a higher rating. The left foot sprain has been rated as moderate.
- Claimed conditions
- Cervical spine strain
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- November 23, 2021
- Citation
- 21070114
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 21070114.
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.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for cervical spine strain, right wrist sprain, right knee strain, left knee strain, and right ankle strain. The disabilities are all deemed to have begun during the Veteran's active duty.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim of service connection for a neck disorder, as it is insufficiently addressed in the previous decision. The case will be sent back for an addendum opinion.
- Denied
The Veteran's cervical spine disability and right upper extremity radiculopathy were denied increased evaluations. The TDIU claim was also denied prior to August 20, 2013.
- Granted
The Board has granted a 20 percent rating for the Veteran's cervical spine strain from October 24, 2011. The effective date is set at that time.
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