Neck / cervical spine decisions — 2024

The Board has granted service connection for cervical strain, left ankle strain, and right lower extremity sciatica secondary to lumbosacral strain. Service connection for left lower extremity radiculopathy was denied due to lack of current diagnosis.

The Board has granted service connection for the claimed conditions and set an effective date of December 31, 2019.

The Board denied service connection for a traumatic brain injury and secondary service connection for cervical spine disability due to TBI, finding no probative evidence of a current TBI or causal relationship.

The Board has granted effective dates of December 26, 2019 for the awards of service connection for right and left upper extremity radiculopathy. The appeal is denied as there is no evidence of a claim prior to December 26, 2019 for cervical spine degenerative arthritis with IVDS.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for intervertebral disc syndrome cervical spine, degenerative arthritis and related issues are being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions.,Specifically, the Board is requesting an opinion on whether the Veteran's cervical spine condition was aggravated by his service-connected low back disorder.

The Veteran's cervical spine disability is currently rated at 20 percent from June 16, 2021 to February 15, 2022. From February 16, 2022 to March 7, 2022, the rating remains at 20 percent.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were previously decided in a September 2021 rating decision, appealed to the Board in November 2021, and adjudicated by the Board in an October 29, 2024, decision. The appeal of these issues is dismissed.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for neck disability (degenerative arthritis of the spine), right knee condition, right foot plantar fasciitis, left foot plantar fasciitis, and left shoulder disability are denied.

The Veteran's claims for PTSD, generalized anxiety disorder, and cervical degenerative joint disease post spinal fracture were granted with effective dates of May 23, 2021. The claim for tinnitus was denied as there was no prior unadjudicated claim before February 4, 2022.

The Veteran's TDIU and DEA benefits are granted effective May 27, 2016. The compensable rating for his service-connected bilateral tinea pedis is dismissed.

The Board denied service connection for a cervical spine condition, finding the evidence did not support a link to active service.,For left hip osteoarthritis with sacroiliitis, the Veteran was granted a noncompensable rating. The Board found that her flexion limitation did not meet or exceed 45 degrees.

The Veteran's bilateral pes planus is rated at the maximum allowable under the applicable schedular criteria. The initial increased rating for cervical spine disability was granted, but an initial rating in excess of 20 percent is denied. The Veteran's right upper extremity radiculopathy and migraines are not shown to warrant higher ratings.

The Veteran's lumbar and cervical spine disabilities, as well as their associated radiculopathy, have been granted service connection.,A TDIU is also remanded for further adjudication.

The Veteran's initial increased ratings for cervical spine disability with DDD and bulging disc were denied. The claim was also denied for a higher rating from April 14, 2020.,The Board found that the Veteran did not meet criteria for ankylosis or unfavorable ankylosis of the cervical spine, thus denying her request for increased ratings.

The Veteran's initial rating for chronic orthopedic symptoms of cervical spine disability, status post-operative, is denied as the evidence does not support a higher than 30 percent rating.,The Veteran's initial rating for associated cervical radiculopathy (minor LUE) is denied as the evidence does not support a higher than 30 percent rating.,The Veteran's initial rating for surgical scar residual, posterior neck, is denied as the evidence does not support a higher than 30 percent rating.,The Veteran's initial rating for associated cervical radiculopathy (major RUE) is denied as the evidence does not support a higher than 20 percent rating.

The Veteran's claims for lumbosacral strain with arthritis and cervical strain with arthritis were denied effective November 14, 2012. The Board found that the earliest permissible effective date was November 14, 2012.

The Board remands the claims for a higher rating and earlier effective dates due to inadequate VA examinations.

The Veteran's claims for cervical spine, right shoulder, left shoulder, right upper extremity neurologic disorder other than right middle finger surgical neuropathy, left knee, and sleep apnea disorders have all been denied as there is no evidence of these conditions during service or within one year post-service.,Service connection was granted for a right middle finger surgical neuropathy disability.

The Board has granted service connection for lumbosacral and cervical strains, finding that the Veteran's current conditions began during service.

The Board has remanded the claims of an increased rating for a right knee disability, service connection for a back disability, service connection for a neck disability, and service connection for diabetes mellitus due to pre-existing duty to assist errors.

The Veteran's service connection claims for bilateral hearing loss, right calf muscle loss and injury, left knee pain, and degeneration of cervical intervertebral disc (neck disorder) are all denied. The case is being remanded to obtain additional medical opinions regarding the left knee and neck disorders.,Service connection cannot be established as there is no evidence of a current disability in bilateral hearing loss or right calf muscle loss and injury during the appeal period, and the Veteran did not sustain injuries related to service.