The Veteran's cervical spine disability, including cervical strain, herniated discs, and muscle spasms, is found to have begun during service and is granted as direct service connection.
The deciding factor: Service treatment records show the Veteran reported neck pain starting in 2012 during service, which was attributed by a VA examiner to stress on his neck from carrying heavy gear. The private physician's opinion concluded that the chronic neck pain sustained during service is due to herniated discs and muscle spasms related to military service.
- Claimed conditions
- cervical strain, C5-6 posterior disc herniation with osteophytes, chronic neck pain due to herniated discs accompanied with chronic muscle spasms
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- March 5, 2026
- Citation
- A26019713
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. Read the original VA decision (opens in a new tab) using citation A26019713.
What this means for you
A grant means the Board allowed the benefit or issue identified in this decision. Review the original order: other issues in the same appeal may have a different outcome, and this decision does not predict another claim.
What you can do next
Use your own notice and decision stage. A remanded issue is not a final court-appealable denial. VA review guidance and CAVC filing instructions (U.S. federal; reviewed October 7, 2026).
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's service connection claims for various conditions were granted effective from July 1, 2020.
- Whole decision: Dismissed
The Veteran's appeals for service connection were dismissed due to a procedural defect in filing the claims on the correct form.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for migraine headaches and cervical strain due to a duty to assist error. The AOJ failed to obtain VA medical opinions addressing the etiology of these disabilities.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board denied an earlier effective date for service connection of chronic neck pain and cervical strain, finding that the Veteran did not file a claim for these conditions until June 28, 2013.
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