Neck / cervical spine decisions — 2025

The Board granted service connection for cervical strain, left-hand disability to include numbness, right-hand disability to include numbness, left shoulder pain, right shoulder strain, and hypertension. The claim for a left ankle injury condition was denied.

The Board granted service connection for cervical spine disorder, sinusitis, chronic fatigue syndrome, and headaches. The initial rating of 70 percent was granted for PTSD.

The Board denied a rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD, finding that the Veteran's symptoms did not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board granted an initial 70 percent rating for PTSD with TBI, a 20 percent rating effective July 13, 2023 for degenerative arthritis of the thoracolumbar spine and thoracic disc degeneration, and a separate 10 percent rating effective July 13, 2023 for radiculopathy of the right lower extremity. The Board denied higher ratings for cervical spine conditions, bilateral upper extremity radiculopathy, and other conditions including hearing loss, fractured finger, and deviated nasal septum, while remanding two issues for further consideration.

The Board granted an effective date of June 29, 1971, for the award of service connection for a lumbar spine disability and granted increased ratings for cervical strain with degenerative arthritis and intervertebral disc syndrome, right upper extremity radiculopathy (upper radicular group), and left upper extremity radiculopathy (upper radicular group).

The appeal was dismissed due to the untimely filing of the Board Appeal request.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral flat feet and cervical spine arthritis, as there was no evidence of a current disability or in-service injury/illness. The claim for headaches and anxiety were remanded.

The Board granted a 50 percent rating for headaches, resolving all doubt in the Veteran's favor.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and remanded claims for service connection for a cervical spine disability, lumbar spine disability, and left bicep tendon rupture disability.

The Board granted service connection for carpal tunnel syndrome in the right and left upper extremities, but denied it for a neck disability. The 20 percent rating for low back disability was restored, and initial ratings of 20 percent were granted for sciatica affecting both lower extremities.

The Board granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss but denied service connection for the other claimed conditions, remanding several claims for further development.

The Board granted earlier effective dates for the assignment of disability ratings for cervical spine, radiculopathy, and right hip disabilities, as well as a later effective date for dermatophytosis.

The Board granted service connection for right and left lower extremity sciatica as secondary to a lumbar spine disability, but denied earlier effective dates for increased ratings of major depressive disorder and cervical spine condition.

The Veteran withdrew the appeal, and all issues on appeal have been dismissed.

The Board granted service connection for a cervical disability, including HPV with high grade squamous intraepithelial lesion, and denied an increased rating for PTSD.

The Board granted service connection for a cervical spine disability and depressive disorder with anxiety, but denied service connection for glaucoma.

The Board granted service connection for cervical spine degenerative disc disease, right wrist strain, and left wrist strain. The appeal of the deferred issue of entitlement to service connection for GERD was dismissed. Other issues were remanded.

The Board granted an increased disability rating of 50 percent for the Veteran's service-connected PTSD from May 20, 2018 to August 10, 2020 and a 100 percent rating from September 1, 2020. The claims for increased ratings for dyschromia, degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine, thoracolumbar strain, and TDIU were remanded.

The Board denied service connection for lumbar spine, cervical spine, bilateral hearing loss, and left shoulder disabilities. The claims for erectile dysfunction and a respiratory disability were remanded.

The Board granted service connection for cervical strain, lumbosacral strain, and patellofemoral pain syndrome but denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, sinusitis, a higher rating for rhinitis, and an initial compensable rating for asthma.