The Board granted service connection for a neck disability and a back disability, but denied service connection for any other spinal condition.
The deciding factor: The evidence supported the presence of observable symptoms that began in service and persisted, tying them to the Veteran's reports of onset during deployment. The negative VA opinions were found inadequate due to their dismissal of the Veteran's competent lay reports without adequate medical explanation.
- Claimed conditions
- neck disability, back disability (lumbar spine arthritis and thoracolumbar spine strain)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 100%
- Decision date
- March 6, 2025
- Citation
- A25020687
Want to see how appeals like this one tend to go? Appeals like mine
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.