Neck / cervical spine decisions — 2025

The Board denied an earlier effective date for the increased (20 percent) rating for a right shoulder disability but granted earlier effective dates of January 4, 2022, for the increased (20 percent) rating for a cervical spine disability and for the grants of service connection for left and right upper extremity radiculopathy.

The Board remands the issues of an initial rating in excess of 20 percent for lumbar strain with degenerative arthritis and an initial rating in excess of 20 percent for degenerative disc disease, cervical spine prior to December 10, 2014, due to a failure by the VA examiner to provide a retrospective opinion that complies with the Board's remand instructions.

The Board remands the claims for service connection due to inadequate VA opinions.

The Board granted service connection for fibromyalgia and denied service connection for PTSD, while remanding the issue of a cervical spine disability.

The Board granted service connection for tinnitus, resolving reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran. The other claims were remanded for further development.

The Board granted a 10 percent rating for hypertension and TDIU due to PTSD, while denying service connection for a neck disability and remanding claims for vasovagal syncope and migraine headaches.

The Board dismissed the veteran's appeals for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, cervical strain, esophagus stricture, traumatic brain injury (TBI), and migraine headaches due to untimely notice of disagreement. The appeal for B-cell lymphoma was remanded for further development.

The Board granted service connection for left knee osteoarthritis, right knee degenerative joint disease (status post total knee replacement), degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine (status post cervical surgery), and degenerative arthritis of the thoracolumbar spine (status post lumbar surgery) based on evidence that these conditions had their onset during active service.

The Board granted service connection for multiple conditions, including tinnitus, traumatic brain injury, post-concussion migraines, peripheral vestibular disorder, insomnia, obstructive sleep apnea, lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis and intervertebral disc syndrome thoracolumbar spine, lumbar right side sciatic nerve radiculopathy, lumbar left side sciatic nerve radiculopathy, cervical strain with degenerative arthritis and intervertebral disc syndrome, and cervical right upper extremity radiculopathy.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for PTSD, an acquired psychiatric disorder, and a neck condition to correct pre-decisional duty to assist errors.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for a neck disability, left upper extremity nerve disability, and right upper extremity nerve disability for additional evidentiary development.

The Board granted service connection for multiple conditions, including bilateral foot disability, knee disability, ankle disability, cervical degenerative disc disease, spondylosis, and cervicalgia, secondary to a service-connected lumbar strain, as well as GERD. The claims of readjudication were also granted.

The Board denied service connection for multiple conditions, including fatigue, bilateral eye disability, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, GERD, penile condition, left foot disability, and others. Some claims were remanded for further development.

The Board granted service connection for right and left hallux valgus, right and left femoral acetabular impingement syndrome, right knee degenerative arthritis, left knee strain, cervical strain, right shoulder strain, and dyspnea as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected degenerative arthritis of the spine and sleep apnea.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities are of such nature and severity as to preclude his participation in any regular substantially gainful employment consistent with his education and occupational experience, warranting a total disability rating based on individual unemployability.

The Board remands the issue of service connection for a neck disability for further development, including a new VA examination to address the Veteran's claimed in-service fall and other relevant factors.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD was granted a rating of 100 percent effective April 10, 2018, due to the severity of his symptoms.

The appeal for service connection for a cervical spine disability was withdrawn by the Veteran before the Board promulgated a decision.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and other benefits due to insufficient evidence of disability severity beyond the current ratings.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection and initial compensable ratings for various conditions, including a right hip strain with limitation of extension, impairment of the right hip, obstructive sleep apnea, cervical spine disorder, left hip disorder, and left toe disorder.