Neck / cervical spine decisions — 2025

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for lumbosacral strain, cervical strain, bilateral hearing loss, and migraine headaches were dismissed due to lack of response within 60 days of the Board's request for clarification regarding his preferred docket.

The Board remands the claim for an increased rating for cervical spine degenerative disc disease to obtain a more comprehensive VA examination.

The Board granted a 60 percent disability rating for the Veteran's cervical spine disability from February 11, 1999, and separate 20 percent ratings for radiculopathy of the upper left and right extremities from March 26, 2009. The claim for service connection for OSA was denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for cervical strain, finding that there was no evidence of a chronic neck disorder in service or shortly thereafter and that the persuasive balance of the evidence is against a finding that the Veteran's cervical strain is etiologically related to active service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for earlier effective dates, higher ratings, and service connection due to a lack of evidence supporting these claims.

The Board remands the claim for service connection for a cervical spine disability to readjudicate it on the merits due to new and relevant evidence.

The Board found that the reduction in rating for residuals of prostate cancer status post robotic prostatectomy in remission from 100 percent to 20 percent was not in accordance with law and is void ab initio, and the issue of entitlement to a TDIU is dismissed as moot.

The Board denied an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine, finding that November 12, 2022, is the correct effective date.

The appeal seeking service connection for neck and left knee disabilities was dismissed due to the Veteran's concurrent election of review options.

The Veteran is granted special monthly compensation (SMC) based on the need for regular aid and attendance due to his service-connected disabilities, which include lumbar and cervical spine disabilities with bilateral upper and lower extremity radiculopathies.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for eligibility for financial assistance for specially adapted housing or special home adaptation.

The Board granted an increased rating of 30 percent for the Veteran's cervical spine disability, service connection for post-surgical cervical spine scar and left upper extremity radiculopathy as secondary to the cervical spine condition, and a TDIU from August 24, 2017. The right upper extremity radiculopathy rating was denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection and a higher initial rating, as well as remanded the claim for chronic fatigue syndrome.

The Board denied service connection for erectile dysfunction and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) as there was no evidence of an in-service event, injury, or disease relevant to these conditions and a nexus between the current disabilities and active duty. The claims for service connection for headaches, lumbar spine condition, left foot condition, right foot condition, right knee condition, right shoulder condition, cervical spine condition, and right upper extremity radiculopathy were remanded for further development.

The Board remands the claim for service connection for a cervical spine disorder to schedule a VA examination.

The Board denied the petitions to readjudicate claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, but remanded an upper back and neck disability claim due to an inadequate VA examination.

The Board remands the claim for service connection for cervical spine disorder to obtain a more thorough medical opinion, as the previous VA examiner's opinion was deemed inadequate.

The Board granted service connection for a lower back disability and a cervical spine disability, finding that these conditions are related to the Veteran's active service.

The Board denied increased ratings for the Veteran's cervical and lumbar spine disabilities as well as left and right lower extremity radiculopathy, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating under applicable criteria.

The appeals for increased ratings of the Veteran's conditions were dismissed from the modernized review system due to a procedural defect.