Neck / cervical spine decisions — 2025

The Board granted service connection for PTSD and left hip strain, but denied increased ratings for right hip strain, cervical strain, and chronic headaches.

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

The Board remands the claims for further development, specifically to obtain an addendum medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's cervical degenerative arthritis and DDD with spinal stenosis.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for neck strain and obstructive sleep apnea due to incomplete records.

The appeal of the proposed decrease in rating for degenerative arthritis of the cervical strain is dismissed.

The Board denied higher ratings for the Veteran's knee and cervical spine disabilities, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating under applicable criteria.

The Board denied several claims for increased ratings and service connection, while granting a 30% rating for herpes simplex labialis and service connection for thoracolumbar spine disability.

The Board granted service connection for acquired psychiatric disability, cervical spine, lumbar spine disability (including IVDS), right ankle, and right knee based on the evidence of record.

The Board granted service connection for asthma but denied service connection for chronic bronchitis and stable angina. Migraine headaches, bilateral hypermetropia, hypertension, a lumbar spine disability, left lower extremity radiculopathy, and cervical spine disability claims were withdrawn by the Veteran.

The Board granted service connection for a cervical spine disability and neurological impairment of the left upper extremity, finding that both conditions are at least as likely as not related to the Veteran's active service.

The Board grants an initial 40 percent disability rating for the Veteran's thoracolumbar spine disability, an initial 20 percent disability rating for the cervical spine disability, and an initial 10 percent disability rating for the right long finger disability, all effective from November 1, 2009.

The Board granted service connection for a left hip disability as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected left and right knee disabilities, but denied increased ratings for cervical spine, right knee, left knee (meniscal tear status post meniscal repair), and left knee (limitation of motion) disabilities. A 10 percent rating was granted for the left knee scar.,The Board remanded the claim for service connection for sleep apnea for further development.

The Board granted service connection for restless leg syndrome at a 10 percent rating and denied service connection for injury to teeth, while remanding the claims for an acquired psychiatric disorder, hemorrhoids, neck disability, and low back disability.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for special monthly compensation based on the need for aid and attendance due to his service-connected disabilities, including bipolar disorder.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date of August 20, 2019 for the grant of a 30 percent evaluation for service-connected dizziness was granted.

The Board granted service connection for residuals of a cervical spine injury, as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected psychiatric pathology.

The Board granted service connection for cervical spine disability, finding that the evidence is at least evenly balanced as to whether the Veteran's cervical spine disability onset in-service.

The Board granted service connection for a right shoulder disability and increased the rating for obstructive sleep apnea to 50 percent, while denying service connection for hypertension and other claims.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for a cervical spine disability, finding no evidence of an in-service injury or disease and no credible lay statements supporting chronicity since service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for migraine headaches as there was no evidence of characteristic prostrating attacks or that cervical spine pain was caused by the migraines.