The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's neck and low back disabilities, finding that they are at least as likely as not related to his military service.
The deciding factor: The Veteran reported experiencing injuries in service from falls on footbridges and diving into the ground during combat. His VA and private medical records show diagnoses of degenerative disc disease and arthritis in both neck and low back areas, which he has experienced since service. The May 2022 VA examiner acknowledged the Veteran's reports but concluded that his current spine diagnosis is exacerbated by a prior occupation as a computer programmer.
- Claimed conditions
- cervical degenerative arthritis, degenerative disc disease (neck), IVDS (neck), spinal fusion (neck), spinal stenosis (neck), s/p anterior cervical decompression and fusion at both C5-6 and C6-7 (neck), lumbar degenerative arthritis, degenerative disc disease (low back)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- November 21, 2022
- Citation
- 22065009
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 22065009.
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.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for thoracolumbar degenerative arthritis and lumbar intervertebral disc degeneration, cervical degenerative arthritis, left shoulder acromioclavicular joint degeneration, right hip strain, anxiety as secondary to the Veteran's back condition, and depression as secondary to the Veteran's back condition. The claims for service connection for a left knee condition and a right knee condition were denied.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for cervical degenerative arthritis, while remanding the claims for lumbosacral strain and plantar fasciitis of the left and right foot.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for cervical degenerative arthritis, cervical radiculopathy of both upper extremities, thoracolumbar degenerative arthritis, and lumbar radiculopathy of both lower extremities based on the evidence showing that these conditions began during and have continued since service.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the case for further development and readjudication of the veteran's claims.
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