The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection and increased rating, finding no evidence of a cervical spine disability in service or a nexus to service. The right shoulder disability was rated at 20%.
The deciding factor: The VA examiner found insufficient documentation of a cervical spine condition during service and concluded that any current cervical spine disability is less likely than not related to service.
- Claimed conditions
- Degenerative Disc Disease (DDD) of the cervical spine, Right shoulder disability
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- February 10, 2026
- Citation
- A26012448
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 A26012448.
What this means for you
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What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has denied service connection for a right shoulder disability and remanded the case for further action on heart disability. The decision regarding right shoulder disability is that it was not incurred in or aggravated by service.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for various disabilities, including low back, left hip, right hip, left shoulder, and right shoulder disabilities. The VA examinations did not provide adequate opinions regarding the etiology of these conditions.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for a VA examiner's opinion regarding whether his service-connected disabilities result in loss of use and if so, whether he requires aid and attendance without considering such disability/ies. The Veteran also needs to be considered for SMC R1 based on the need for regular aid and attendance.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's right shoulder disability as secondary to his service-connected left shoulder disability, finding that the evidence is in equipoise and granting secondary service connection.
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