Neck / cervical spine decisions — 2025

The Board remands the claims for service connection for left shoulder strain and tendinosis, as well as cervical spine strain (claimed as neck pain), to obtain additional medical opinions.

The Board remands the claims for increased ratings and service connection due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error, requiring updated VA records.

The appeal was dismissed as there is no justiciable case or controversy for appellate review.

The Board granted service connection for fatty liver as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected PTSD with alcohol use disorder, but remanded the claim for cervical strain due to a need for an adequate medical opinion.

The Board granted an effective date of March 23, 2011, for the grant of a separate 10 percent rating for left knee meniscal tear with degenerative arthritis, limitation of flexion and from March 23, 2011, for a 10 percent rating for right knee joint osteoarthritis, instability or subluxation. The Board denied ratings in excess of 10 percent for the left and right knees and cervical spine, and granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea.

The Board denied an increased disability rating in excess of 20 percent for degenerative disc disease (DDD) of the cervical spine with intervertebral disc (IVDS).

The Board granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, right wrist disability, right knee disability, left knee disability, right hip disability, and neck disability.

The Board granted service connection for a back disability, neck disability, right shoulder disability, left ankle disability, left knee disability, right knee disability, left elbow disability, and right elbow disability.

The Board granted service connection for tinnitus and denied service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II. The remaining claims for service connection were remanded.

The Veteran's neck disability was granted an initial rating of 20 percent prior to March 12, 2021. The other issues are remanded for further development.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for an increased rating for TBI and service connection for cervical spine strain with degenerative arthritis and degenerative disc disease, as well as remanded a claim for service connection for GERD.

The Board denied readjudication of the claims for service connection for a cervical spine disability and sinusitis as new and relevant evidence was not received.

The Board remands the issue of entitlement to service connection for a neck disability due to an inadequate VA examination and the need for additional medical records.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection for migraines, cervical spinal stenosis, a scar on neck, and right ankle disability, as well as increased ratings for bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome. The appeal for service connection for PTSD was denied due to insufficient evidence of a current diagnosis of PTSD.

The Board granted restoration of the 30% rating for IVDS with degenerative arthritis, spondylosis, and cervical strain, as well as the 30% and 40% ratings for left and right upper extremity radiculopathy, respectively. Service connection for a lumbar spine disorder was denied.

The veteran withdrew his appeal for service connection and higher initial evaluations for multiple conditions, including bilateral hearing loss, actinic keratoses, plantar fasciitis, basal cell carcinoma, and various musculoskeletal issues.

The Board granted an initial 70 percent evaluation for the service-connected psychiatric disability and a TDIU, but denied other claims related to earlier effective dates and burial expenses.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral sensorineural hearing loss and remanded the claims for other conditions due to insufficient evidence.

The Board remands the case for an additional medical opinion to determine the etiology of the Veteran's cervical spine disorder, specifically whether it was caused by or resulted from his service-connected right shoulder, right hip, right knee, and right ankle disabilities.

The Board granted ratings of 30 percent or higher for the Veteran's cervical spine degenerative arthritis, lumbar spine osteoarthritis with intervertebral disc syndrome, right shoulder strain, left elbow olecranon bursitis, right elbow olecranon bursitis, and headaches. Service connection was also granted for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) under the PACT Act.