The Veteran's cervical spine disability, claimed as cervical strain with muscle pain and arthritis, is granted.,The Veteran's chronic right trapezius disorder is granted.,The Veteran's headaches are secondary to his service-connected degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine.
The deciding factor: Service connection for a right shoulder nerve entrapment disorder is remanded due to inadequate opinions from VA examiners regarding the relationship between the Veteran's in-service injury and current condition.,Service connection for chronic right trapezius disorder is granted based on continuity of symptoms since service.,Service connection for headaches, secondary to degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine, is granted as they are proximately due to or aggravated by his service-connected cervical spine disability.
- Claimed conditions
- Degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine with intervertebral disc syndrome, Chronic right trapezius disorder, Headaches, secondary to degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- January 23, 2024
- Citation
- 24003268
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 831 · Granted: 48% (granted or partly granted, in the vetted decisions on this site)
Judge attribution: 2025 complete; earlier years partial.
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 24003268.
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 Veteran's cervical spine disability with IVDS is currently rated at 20 percent, and the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted.,The Veteran's right upper extremity radiculopathy, left upper extremity radiculopathy, right lower extremity radiculopathy, and left lower extremity radiculopathy are all currently rated at 20 percent, and the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for new examinations to assess the current severity of his service-connected disabilities.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has determined that the Veteran's appeal for increased ratings and TDIU is remanded due to procedural defects, including a failure to readjudicate the case after receiving new evidence. The Veteran will need to provide additional medical records and undergo a VA examination.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine, right shoulder, left shoulder, and lumbar spine conditions, finding that these conditions are related to injuries incurred during combat in Vietnam.
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.