The Board granted earlier effective dates for service connection for degenerative arthritis of the cervical and thoracolumbar spine based on new evidence associated with the claims file in August 2015.
The deciding factor: The decision was based on the sympathetic reading of the Veteran's October 1997 claim, which included occipital neuralgia, and the service treatment records obtained in August 2015 that supported a diagnosis of degenerative arthritis of the thoracolumbar spine.
- Claimed conditions
- Degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine, Degenerative arthritis of the thoracolumbar spine
- How they argued it
- Reopened with new and material evidence
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- April 29, 2025
- Citation
- A25039055
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 an initial disability rating of 30 percent for degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine but denied a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).
- Partly granted
The Veteran's cervical spine disability is granted a 30 percent rating, while the lumbar and lower extremity radiculopathy claims are denied. An earlier effective date for right lower extremity radiculopathy was granted, and TDIU based on single service-connected disability is remanded.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine and entitlement to total disability based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for a new VA examination to address whether the Veteran's degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine is secondary to his service-connected right shoulder disability.
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