Neck / cervical spine decisions — 2025

The Board has granted the Veteran's request to readjudicate the previously denied claims of entitlement to service connection for right eye and right shoulder. The matters are remanded so the AOJ may consider the claims on their merits.

The Board remands the Veteran's claims for service connection for various disabilities and a TDIU due to pre-decisional duty-to-assist errors.

The Board granted service connection for cervical strain, left and right hip disabilities (post-traumatic arthritis), erectile dysfunction, and SMC based on loss of use of a creative organ with an effective date of September 28, 2012. Other claims were denied.

The Board granted a 100 percent rating for PTSD and depressive disorder with insomnia from December 29, 2020, but denied increased ratings for the veteran's other conditions.

The Board remands all claims for a VA examination to determine the relationship between each claimed disability and service or another service-connected condition.

The Board denied the Veteran's appeal for an increased rating in excess of 30 percent for degenerative disc disease with cervical strain, as there was no evidence of unfavorable ankylosis or a higher rating under other criteria.

The Board granted service connection for cervical strain and denied service connection for hearing loss, while remanding claims for migraine headaches and left upper extremity radiculopathy.

The Board denied service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, cervical strain, and lumbosacral and thoracic strains as the evidence showed that these conditions pre-existed the Veteran's active duty and were not aggravated by it.

The Board granted service connection for a neck disability, back disability, GERD, hepatitis B, atopic dermatitis, and OSA. Tinnitus was denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection, granted a 0% rating for cholinergic urticaria, quiescent, and remanded the claim for hypertension.

The Board remands the claims for further development and examination to address the Veteran's service-connected cervical spine degenerative disc disease with IVDS status post spinal fusion, as well as his left and right upper and lower extremity radiculopathy.

The Board granted a 20 percent rating for cervical myofasciitis and service connection for bilateral upper extremity radiculopathy, secondary to the Veteran's service-connected cervical myofasciitis.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for right shoulder degenerative arthritis with rotator cuff tear, cervical strain, and low back disability to obtain an adequate medical opinion addressing the Veteran's history of diving in service.

The Board grants service connection for cervical strain with degenerative disc disease other than IVDS, degenerative arthritis, and spinal stenosis as it is at least as likely as not that the Veteran's condition had onset during service or was caused by an in-service injury or event.

The Board granted an earlier effective date of October 25, 2005 for the 30 percent disability rating of left upper extremity radiculopathy but denied earlier effective dates for service connection for DDD of the cervical spine with spondylosis and adhesive capsulitis of the left shoulder.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for sleep apnea, right shoulder disability, and neck disability to correct pre-decisional duty to assist errors.

The Board remands the claims for further development, specifically to obtain relevant Social Security Administration records.

The Board granted service connection for sleep apnea, right wrist sprain, left wrist disability manifested by pain, left foot arthritis, right foot arthritis and hallux valgus, headaches, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, degenerative changes of the cervical spine, right lateral epicondylitis (claimed as right arm disability), and left upper extremity cervical radiculopathy (claimed as left arm disability and left elbow disability).

The Board remands the Veteran's claims for compensation benefits under 38 U.S.C. § 1151, related to surgical treatment at the Tampa VA Medical Center.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss was denied, and several claims were remanded for further development.