Neck / cervical spine decisions — 2025

The Board denied the Veteran's request for an earlier effective date for service connection for cervical strain, left upper extremity radiculopathy, and right upper extremity radiculopathy.

The Board granted service connection for a cervical strain, finding it related to the Veteran's service. The claims for lumbosacral and left ankle strains were remanded for further development.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for urinary frequency and cervical spine intervertebral disc syndrome due to inadequate VA examinations and missing records.

The Board denied an initial rating greater than 70 percent for persistent depressive disorder and generalized anxiety, granted a 20 percent rating for cervical strain, lumbosacral strain, right lower extremity shin splints, and left lower extremity shin splints, but denied an initial rating greater than 10 percent for bilateral plantar fasciitis.

The Board denied earlier effective dates for service connection and increased rating, finding that the earliest possible date of January 24, 2023, is legally required.

The Board denied service connection for a psychiatric disability, sleep disability, and heart murmur, bypass surgery and residuals. The claims for left knee, seizure, head injury, scar on the left cheek, cervical spine, and right hip disabilities were remanded for further development.

The Board granted service connection for cervical, thoracic, and lumbar spine disabilities, bilateral pes planus and plantar fasciitis, tinnitus, chronic sinusitis, allergic rhinitis, digestive disabilities including irritable bowel syndrome with abdominal pain and nausea, pelvic organ disabilities, iron deficiency anemia, and genital herpes. Service connection was denied for acne, tendonitis, fibromyalgia, painful joints, left shin splints, right shin splints, left ankle condition, right ankle condition, left carpal tunnel syndrome, right carpal tunnel syndrome, respiratory infection, GERD, PTSD, anxiety condition, manic-depressive reaction, and psychiatric disorder other than unspecified depressive disorder with symptoms of suicidal ideation. An initial 50% rating was granted for the service-connected unspecified depressive disorder.

The Board remands the claim for a cervical spine disability to obtain additional medical evidence regarding its relationship to service and a service-connected lumbar spine disability.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a neck and back disability, finding no evidence to support a nexus between the claimed in-service injuries and current disabilities.

The Board dismissed all claims for service connection and increased ratings due to the Veteran's death during the pendency of the appeal.

The Board granted service connection for a neck disability and denied an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for intervertebral disc syndrome and lumbosacral strain. The claims for increased ratings were remanded.

The Board granted service connection for major depressive disorder, which is linked to the Veteran's service-connected migraines. The claims for lumbosacral strain, cervical strain, left hip strain, and right hip strain were remanded due to pre-decisional duty-to-assist errors.

The Board denied the Veteran's appeal for an earlier effective date for service-connected right shoulder, left shoulder, and cervical spine disabilities, as the evidence showed that these conditions arose on December 21, 2016.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus was granted, while other claims were denied or remanded.

The Board granted an earlier effective date of April 2, 2020 for the award of service connection for PTSD with alcohol use disorder in remission and TBI residuals but denied increased ratings for multiple disabilities.

The Veteran withdrew all pending appeals, as he is now rated 100 percent from November 22, 2022.

The Board denied service connection for a bone disorder, back disability, right shoulder radiculopathy, right and left foot osteoarthritis, neck disability, and dry eye syndrome due to the lack of evidence showing current diagnoses or symptoms during service that are related to these conditions.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for cervical spondylosis, left knee degenerative arthritis, and migraines to VA for an adequate examination and medical opinion.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including degenerative joint disease of the lower back, sleep apnea, bilateral chronic venous insufficiency, and a bilateral knee disability. The appeal was dismissed for an effective date prior to December 28, 2006, for total disability based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The appeal concerning the issues of entitlement to service connection for various disabilities is dismissed due to the Veteran's death during the pendency of the appeal.