Neck / cervical spine decisions — 2025

The Board denied service connection for a traumatic brain injury (TBI), chronic disability manifested by dizziness, and other claimed disabilities as there was no evidence of current diagnoses or nexus to service.

The Board remands the claim for a chronic cervical spine disorder to obtain an addendum VA medical opinion that substantially complies with prior remand directives.

The Board denied an initial compensable rating for a residual scar from cervical fusion on the basis of disfigurement and granted an initial 10 percent rating based on pain. The Board also denied initial ratings in excess of 20 percent for intervertebral disc syndrome of the cervical spine with spinal fusion and stenosis, as well as right and left upper extremity radiculopathy.

The Veteran was granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to her service-connected disabilities, as the evidence demonstrated she was unable to obtain and maintain gainful employment.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for GERD, OSA, a cervical spine disability, and a thyroid disability to obtain an adequate medical opinion.

The Board granted a 30 percent initial disability rating for the removal of the uterus due to cervical dysplasia and awarded special monthly compensation based on anatomical loss of use of a creative organ.

The appeal was dismissed due to the Veteran's passing during its pendency.

The Board granted service connection for cervical and lumbar spine disabilities, headaches, and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy. It also dismissed the claims for higher ratings of reactive airway disease, allergic rhinitis, and PTSD, denied service connection for CFS and TBI, and granted a 30% rating for IBS.

The Board remands the claims for additional development, including obtaining private treatment records and scheduling VA examinations to assess the severity of the Veteran's disabilities from May 7, 2013, to August 5, 2019.

The Board granted service connection for a cervical spine disorder but dismissed the appeal regarding an earlier effective date and increased initial rating for a service-connected acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for a cervical strain and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) due to missing records that need to be obtained.

The Board granted service connection for degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine, left shoulder strain, and osteoarthritis of the left hip status post left hip replacement based on a nexus to the Veteran's military service as a Navy SEAL.

The Board denied earlier effective dates for the awards of service connection for a neck and back disability, as well as increased ratings for these disabilities.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings, finding no evidence to support a causal relationship between his conditions and military service or that his conditions are more severe than currently rated.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) as his service-connected disabilities, while severe, do not render him unable to obtain or maintain a gainful occupation.

The Board granted service connection for irritable bowel syndrome, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), other specified trauma and stressor related disorder, and pain of cervical & cervicothoracic regions.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for a bilateral eye disability and cervical disability to ensure that the Veteran receives appropriate VA examinations.

The Board denied earlier effective dates for the award of service connection for PTSD, cervical strain, and bilateral knee disorders.

The Board granted service connection for bilateral tinnitus, a cervical strain as secondary to a right shoulder disability on a causation basis, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD, anxiety, adjustment disorder) due to military sexual trauma (MST), while denying service connection for rhinitis, chronic sinusitis, CFS, and a neurological disorder with night sweats.

The Board denied service connection for neck, shoulder, low back, hip, headache, and tinnitus disabilities as there was insufficient evidence of a present disability or functional impairment related to the claimed conditions during or proximate to the pendency of the claim.