Neck / cervical spine decisions — 2025

The Board remands the claims for increased ratings of bilateral knee strain, lumbar spine degenerative disc disease with degenerative arthritis, and cervical strain to correct pre-decisional duty to assist errors.

The Board granted service connection for GERD, back pain, cervical spine disability, and rib pain. The remaining claims were remanded for further development.

The Board dismissed the claims for increased ratings and service connection due to untimely filings of a Notice of Disagreement, except for remanding certain claims for further development.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine and degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine with cervical strain due to inadequate medical opinions.

The Board denied a rating in excess of 10 percent for hypertension and remanded the claims for service connection for lumbar spine disorder and cervical spine disorder.

The Board remands the claims for an earlier effective date as it failed to consider new and material evidence submitted within one year of a July 2011 rating decision.

The Board granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and denied the claims for service connection for chronic epididymo-orchitis, an increased rating for bilateral pes planus, an initial increased rating for right upper extremity radiculopathy, an increased rating for cervical spine degenerative arthritis with intervertebral disc syndrome, and an increased rating for hypertension.

The Board denied service connection for sinusitis, anxiety and depression, a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss, and a rating in excess of 20 percent for cervical strain degenerative arthritis of C4/5.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for a neck disability, right hand disability, and bilateral foot disability due to missing service records.

The Board denied service connection for a recurrent thyroid disability to include hyperthyroidism and remanded several other claims, including those for craniocervical spine, upper extremity neurological, headache, eye, leg, foot, fibromyalgia, temporary total ratings, and TDIU.

The Board granted service connection for cervical strain with spondylosis and neuroforaminal encroachment, left upper extremity cervical radiculopathy, right upper extremity cervical radiculopathy, left lower extremity lumbar radiculopathy, and right lower extremity lumbar radiculopathy. The Board also granted initial ratings of 40 percent for lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis and 20 percent for right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome.

The Board denied service connection for cervical strain, lumbosacral strain, right and left lower extremity radiculopathy, and a left knee disability as they were not related to the Veteran's active service. The claims for chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and an acquired psychiatric disorder, including posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are remanded for further development.

The Board granted an effective date of November 5, 2014, for the award of service connection for cervical spine degenerative arthritis with IVDS.

The Board denied increased ratings for cervical strain and lumbosacral strain, granted a 10 percent rating for right lower extremity sciatic nerve radiculopathy from February 20, 2019, to present, and granted TDIU from May 8, 2020, to March 17, 2021.

The Board granted service connection for a cervical spine disability, finding that the Veteran's current condition is etiologically related to his active duty service.

The appeal was dismissed due to the Veteran's death during the pendency of the appeal.

The Board remands the claims for a cervical spine disability and bilateral upper extremity nerve disability to ensure that the AOJ obtains an addendum opinion regarding secondary service connection.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for lumbosacral strain, left and right shoulder strains, right knee strain, left knee strain, right hand fracture, and cervical strain to ensure a thorough medical examination is conducted.

The Board granted service connection for lumbar degenerative arthritis with spinal stenosis, cervical degenerative arthritis with spinal stenosis, peripheral neuropathy of the right and left lower extremities as secondary to the lumbar condition, but denied a left leg disability other than neuropathy. Parkinson's disease was remanded.

The Board denied a disability rating greater than 30 percent for degenerative disk disease of the cervical spine based on the evidence showing that the Veteran's symptoms did not warrant an increased disability rating.