Neck / cervical spine decisions — 2025

The veteran's claim for service connection for lower cervical spine/brachial plexus was dismissed. An effective date of August 12, 2022, was granted for depressive disorder with insomnia. Other claims were remanded.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for cervical spine, left hip, right hip, and left ankle disabilities were denied. The claim for a back disability was remanded.

The veteran's claim for service connection for a cervical spine condition was dismissed due to a claims processing defect. Service connection for GERD was granted, and the claim for erectile dysfunction with hypogonadism was remanded for further action.

The appeal for service connection of a cervical spine disorder as secondary to a thoracolumbar spine disorder was granted due to new evidence. The issues regarding radiculopathy in both upper extremities were remanded.

The Board denied service connection for all claimed conditions, including cervicalgia, headaches, hypothyroidism, PTSD, and seizures. The evidence did not show that these conditions began during active service or are related to an in-service injury or disease.

The veteran's service connection for a neck disability, diagnosed as cervical strain, is granted. The Board found that the Veteran's cervical spine disability is etiologically related to service.

Service connection for tinnitus is granted. The effective date for obstructive sleep apnea is September 29, 2020. The effective date for cervical spine degenerative arthritis with degenerative disc disease and disc displacement is denied earlier than January 4, 2021. The effective date for right upper extremity cervical radiculopathy is January 4, 2021. An initial evaluation of 30 percent for cervical spine degenerative arthritis with degenerative disc disease and disc placement from January 4, 2021, to November 29, 2021, is granted.

The veteran's request for a higher rating for chronic lumbar strain was denied, but the issue of total disability due to service-connected disabilities was remanded for further review.

The Board remanded the veteran's claims for higher disability ratings and an earlier effective date due to inadequate examinations and opinions.

The Board remanded the claim for service connection of a cervical spine condition due to insufficient medical opinions. The Veteran's case will be reviewed again with proper medical evaluations.

The Veteran's service-connected back disability is rated at 40 percent from January 11, 2006. The Board denied a higher rating for this condition and remanded the case due to insufficient evidence of unfavorable ankylosis or functional unfavorable ankylosis.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of a cervical spine disability, finding that it did not manifest to a compensable degree within one year of separation from service and continuity of symptomatology is not established. The Board also found no causal relationship between the current condition and an in-service injury.

The Veteran's claims for hay fevers, disorder of the sacrum, neck disability, and bilateral hearing loss have been dismissed. The claim for service connection for primary hyperparathyroid condition has been granted on the merits with a reopening. New issues have been identified for remand related to eye condition, memory loss, osteoporosis, lactose intolerance, and chest pain.

The Veteran is granted a TDIU from August 25, 2011 to September 26, 2019 and from July 21, 2020 to the present due to service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating for a cervical spine disorder was dismissed.,The Veteran's claim for an initial rating of 100 percent disabled since July 27, 2014, for service-connected neurocognitive disorder associated with TBI is granted.

The Board remanded the claim for service connection of a neck disability as secondary to lumbosacral strain with IVDS. The Veteran will have another opportunity to attend a VA examination.

The veteran's claims for service connection for degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine and thoracolumbar spine were granted. The claim for left shoulder degenerative arthritis was denied. The claims for right and left hip osteoarthritis as secondary conditions were remanded.

The Board denied the veteran's request for an earlier effective date for several disability evaluations and DEA eligibility.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of a traumatic brain injury (TBI), an initial compensable disability rating for tension headaches, and an initial compensable disability rating for sacral teratoma residual scars were denied. The claims for service connection for left knee disability, right knee disability, right hip disability, groin condition, and neck disability were remanded.

The Board remanded the veteran's claims for service connection of cervical and lumbar spine disabilities, as well as related radiculopathy conditions. The veteran will undergo a VA examination to determine the cause of these disabilities.