Granted
The Board grants service connection for cervical strain with degenerative disc disease other than IVDS, degenerative arthritis, and spinal stenosis as it is at least as likely as not that the Veteran's condition had onset during service or was caused by an in-service injury or event.
The deciding factor: The private medical opinion provided more persuasive evidence due to its thorough review of the record and specific rationale, while the VA examiner's opinion did not address both aspects of causation and aggravation in addressing secondary service connection.
- Claimed conditions
- cervical strain with degenerative disc disease other than intervertebral disc syndrome (IVDS), degenerative arthritis, and spinal stenosis
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 100%
- Decision date
- November 26, 2025
- Citation
- A25102553
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