Neck / cervical spine decisions — 2025

The Board denied entitlement to higher ratings for persistent depressive disorder, cervical spine disability, and thoracolumbar spine disability.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for lumbar spine arthritis and cervical spine arthritis to obtain an addendum opinion regarding whether in-service physical activity caused these disabilities.

The Board granted restoration of a 20 percent rating for lumbosacral spine strain from December 28, 2021, and granted service connection for erectile dysfunction (ED) as secondary to UTSRD and obstructive sleep apnea.

The Board denied an initial disability rating in excess of 20 percent for a neck disability and an initial disability rating in excess of 50 percent for sleep apnea with asthma, as well as entitlement to TDIU based on the sleep apnea alone.

The Board granted service connection for a neck disorder, diagnosed as arthritis of the cervical spine, and a left leg disorder, diagnosed as arthritis of the left ankle.

The Board granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and denied a compensable rating for the Veteran's service-connected left hand injury ring finger. The claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, degenerative disc disease, left cubital tunnel syndrome, and left elbow strain were remanded.

The Board denied an evaluation in excess of 10 percent for bilateral plantar fasciitis and remanded the claims for service connection for various disabilities.

The Board remands the claim for a new VA medical opinion to address deficiencies in previous examinations and opinions regarding the Veteran's cervical spine disability.

The Board remands the claims for service connection and an initial rating for MRSA residuals, as well as secondary conditions related to those residuals, due to inadequate medical opinions.

The Board granted initial ratings of 40 percent for lumbosacral strain with mild disc narrowing, 30 percent for cervical strain and left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome, and 30 percent for migraine headaches. The right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome was denied a rating higher than 10 percent.

The Board granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine, disability manifested by skin rash and lesions on feet and hands, respiratory disability manifested by difficulty breathing, disability manifested by muscle pain and cramping, and joint pain in arms and legs, and chronic headaches, all due to an undiagnosed illness.

The Board granted service connection for several conditions, including bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome, cervical myelopathy with right upper extremity weakness, chronic kidney disease stage III, gout of the right foot, hip joint replacements, and umbilical hernia. The claims for left rotator cuff tear, sleep apnea, and tinnitus were remanded.

The appeal to reopen a claim of service connection for cervical spondylosis was denied because the additional evidence submitted is not relevant to proving a nexus between the disability and military service.

The Board granted service connection for tinnitus and denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, loss of use of bodily organs, hair loss, hearing loss, and other conditions. Some claims were remanded for further development.

The Board denied service connection for otitis externa, hemorrhoids, allergic rhinitis, and irritable bowel syndrome. The claims for memory loss disability, sinusitis, neck disability, and back disability were remanded.

The Board granted service connection for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar and cervical spine, spinal stenosis, and neck injury with cervical degenerative disc disease and severe pain based on credible lay statements and medical evidence.

The Board denied a rating above 10 percent for the Veteran's cervical spine strain based on the evidence of record.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for degenerative changes of the cervical spine and migraines (claimed as headaches) as secondary to a degenerative change in the cervical spine.

The Board granted service connection for anxiety disorder and remanded several other claims, including those for hearing loss, tinnitus, a headache disorder, dizziness, hypothyroidism, hypertension, hemorrhoids, and GERD.

The Board denied service connection for multiple disabilities, including cervical spine, radiculopathy, foot and ankle conditions, hypertension, migraines, skin issues, bone pain, and kidney problems, as the evidence did not support a finding of an in-service injury or disease related to these conditions.