The Veteran's degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine is granted as service connection due to continuity of symptoms since service.,The Veteran's right cerebellar stroke is granted as service connection due to continuity of symptoms since service and a link to an in-service motor vehicle accident.,The Veteran's headaches, migraine and tension are granted as service connection due to continuity of symptoms since service and a link to an in-service motor vehicle accident.
The deciding factor: Service treatment records show the Veteran experienced neck pain following his in-service motor vehicle accident. The November 2015 VA examiner opined that current neck pain is related to arthritic changes, establishing continuity of symptomatology.,The June 2018 VA examination and private medical opinion from Dr. S.B. support a link between the Veteran's right cerebellar stroke and his in-service motor vehicle accident. The evidence does not definitively establish that the stroke occurred shortly after the accident.,Dr. S.B.'s opinion supports a connection between the Veteran's headaches, migraine and tension to his in-service motor vehicle accident. He notes that some symptoms did not appear until several years post-accident.
- Claimed conditions
- Degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine, Right cerebellar stroke, Headaches, migraine and tension
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- November 23, 2021
- Citation
- 21070186
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 21070186.
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 service connection for various disabilities, including an acquired psychiatric disability, headaches, a back disability, heart disability, and residuals of a stroke, as the evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were related to the Veteran's active service or caused by his service-connected left ear disabilities.
- Partly granted
The Board denied service connection for erectile dysfunction and remanded the claims for a sleep disorder and headaches to ensure proper development of evidence.
- Dismissed
The Veteran withdrew the appeal in September 2025, stating that she is now 100% permanently and totally disabled effective April 29, 2025.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for a disability rating in excess of 50 percent for PTSD with TBI and a disability rating in excess of 10 percent for headaches as secondary to PTSD with TBI due to a duty to assist error.
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