The Board has determined that the Veteran's cervical spine degenerative disc disease is related to his active duty service and granted service connection for this condition.
The deciding factor: The decision was based on the Veteran's credible reports of continuous neck pain symptoms since separation from active duty service, which outweighed the VA examiner's opinion regarding lack of contemporaneous medical evidence.
- Claimed conditions
- cervical spine degenerative disc disease (DDD)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- December 12, 2023
- Citation
- A23035558
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 A23035558.
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 the Veteran's neck disability, diagnosed as cervical spine degenerative disc disease (DDD), on a direct basis. The decision is based on credible lay evidence of onset in service and continuity of symptoms.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for initial ratings of her left shoulder strain and cervical spine disability due to new evidence or further clarification from the AOJ.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for cervical and lumbar spine degenerative disc disease, left elbow sprain, right elbow enthesophyte, left knee strain and enthesophyte, right knee strain, and right leg radiculopathy but denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD.
- Granted
The Board granted initial ratings of 40 percent, but not higher, for a back disability; 30 percent, but not higher, for cervical spine degenerative disc disease (DDD), left hip disability, migraine headaches, sinusitis, and irritable bowel syndrome.
Free starter guide for your own claim
Reading this because you were denied or under-rated? Get the plain-English next steps — your appeal options, the deadline that protects you, and how appeals like yours turn out. One email, no spam.
We will only use this to send the guide. No spam, unsubscribe any time. We never sell your information.
We are not the VA. Veterans’ Rights is an independent resource built for veterans. We are not the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, not part of the government, and not endorsed by any government agency.
This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.