Neck / cervical spine decisions — 2025

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability evaluation based on individual unemployability (TDIU) prior to October 20, 2019, as the evidence did not show that his service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board granted service connection for back injury and syrinx/hydromyelia, reopened the claims based on new evidence, and denied increased ratings for fibromyalgia, blepharospasm, small fiber neuropathy with autonomic dysfunction, and cervical spondylosis.

The Board remands the issues of entitlement to service connection for various disabilities, including a cervical spine disability, back disability, and upper extremity radiculopathy, due to inadequate development of the record.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for a left arm disorder, cervical spine disorder, acquired psychiatric disorder, hypertension, motor tic, and left shoulder disorder to obtain additional medical evidence regarding their etiology.

The Board granted service connection for left and right knee osteoarthritis, a 30 percent rating for giardia lamblia, and a 30 percent rating for tinea versicolor. A total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) was also granted from February 15, 2019.

The Board remands the issues of entitlement to service connection for a cervical spine disability, left upper extremity nerve disability, right upper extremity nerve disability, fibromyalgia, and urinary incontinence for additional development.

The Board granted an earlier effective date of March 5, 2019, for a 40 percent disability rating for right upper extremity radiculopathy and a 40 percent disability rating for left upper extremity radiculopathy. The claim for a higher rating for cervical stenosis was remanded.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for specially adapted housing and special home adaptation grant due to a lack of evidence showing that any service-connected disabilities result in loss of use of lower extremities or other qualifying conditions.

The Board granted service connection for tinnitus but denied it for a cervical spine disorder on a direct basis, and remanded the claim for a secondary connection to a left-sided degenerative facet hypertrophy at L4-5.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions as new and relevant evidence had not been received to support these claims.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for a neck disability and back disability to obtain additional medical opinions, as the previous VA examinations are found to be inadequate.

The Board denied service connection for the veteran's right shoulder, left shoulder, thoracolumbar spondylosis, cervical spondylosis, and both lower extremity radiculopathies as they were not incurred in or caused by his active service.

The Board denied service connection for arthritis and cervical strain, finding no current diagnosis or evidence of in-service incurrence. The claim for chronic rhinitis was remanded due to an inadequate medical opinion.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for a neck disability and right shin splints to correct a duty to assist error in failing to obtain a VA examination and opinion.

The Veteran's PTSD was granted a 100 percent rating effective September 6, 2021, due to symptoms more nearly approximating total occupational and social impairment.

The Board denied an initial disability evaluation in excess of 30 percent for major depressive disorder and remanded the claims for service connection for anemia and a cervical spine disability.

The Board granted a 100 percent rating for PTSD with major depressive disorder and TBI, service connection for female sexual arousal disorder secondary to the service-connected conditions, and special monthly compensation at the housebound rate. The appeal regarding entitlement to a TDIU was dismissed as moot.

The Board granted a 30 percent rating for cervical spine spondylosis from September 23, 2013 and a 40 percent rating for right upper extremity (RUE) radiculopathy prior to December 16, 2013. Other claims were denied.

The Board granted increased ratings for thoracolumbar strain and cervical strain status post fusion C5-C6, but denied an increased rating for the latter condition in certain periods.

The Board granted service connection for a cervical spine disability, resolving reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran and finding that his current condition is etiologically related to an in-service injury.