The Board denied service connection for a disability of the cervical spine, finding no current disability during the appeal period. The lumbar spine issue was remanded for further examination.
The deciding factor: The VA examiner found that it was less likely than not that the Veteran's claimed neck strain and back pain were incurred in or caused by his service due to the lack of evidence of complaints, treatment, or diagnosis during service and post-service. The lumbar spine issue was remanded for an addendum opinion.
- Claimed conditions
- Disability of the cervical spine, Disability of the lumbar spine (lumbosacral strain)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- January 29, 2024
- Citation
- 24004328
What this means for you
A denial is a starting point, not the end of the road. You can see why this claim fell short — and, if you are still inside the one-year window, the appeal lanes that may remain open to you.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for service connection and a TDIU due to insufficient evidence.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for service connection for cervical spine, right shoulder, left hip, and bilateral ankle disabilities to ensure further development is completed.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, effective from the date of the February 2025 rating decision.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for a medical examination to determine if the Veteran's current neck strain is related to his in-service activities.
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