Neck / cervical spine decisions — 2025

The Board remands the claims for service connection for cervical strain, low back condition, and tinnitus due to inadequate VA examination opinions.

The Board granted service connection for cervical neoplasia, grade III severe dysplasia and tinnitus, while denying service connection for fatigue syndrome, scarring, status-post LEEP, and other conditions. The decision also denied initial ratings in excess of 70% for major depressive disorder and various other disabilities.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and remanded the claims for OSA, low back disability, acquired psychiatric disorder, bilateral plantar fasciitis, left knee pain, right knee pain, posttraumatic residual pain of the cervical and cervicothoracic regions, and radicular pain and paresthesia of the right lower extremity.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for radiculopathy of both lower extremities and degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine, finding that the evidence did not support a rating in excess of 10 percent.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for a cervical spine disorder and a headache disorder as secondary to service connected degenerative disc disease with degenerative arthritis and spinal stenosis of the lumbar spine, due to insufficient evidence.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and an earlier effective date, as the maximum schedular rating of 100 percent for PTSD with persistent depressive disorder and traumatic brain injury has been in effect since April 19, 2019.

The Board denied increased ratings for the Veteran's cervical spine, shoulder, and foot disabilities based on the evidence of record.

The Board granted an effective date of August 31, 2011, for the award of a 30 percent disability evaluation for degenerative arthritis and cervical strain.

The appeal was dismissed due to the Veteran's death.

The Board denied service connection for a chronic gastrointestinal disability, to include irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), and remanded claims for bilateral plantar fasciitis, temporomandibular joint dysfunction (TMJ), cervical spine, lumbar spine, left knee, and left ankle disabilities.

The Board granted an effective date of January 12, 2017, for the 20 percent evaluation of cervical spine degenerative arthritis.

The Board granted an initial rating of 20 percent for right shoulder impingement syndrome and cervical strain, as the evidence supported a 20 percent rating based on the Veteran's symptoms and range of motion findings.

The Board denied service connection for right shoulder, low back, left and right knee, as well as left and right foot disabilities due to a lack of evidence linking these conditions to the Veteran's active service.

The Board granted a total disability individual unemployability (TDIU) on an extraschedular basis, effective December 31, 2007, due to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendering him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board granted service connection for GERD, cervical spine condition, and hypertension based on the evidence showing a relationship between these conditions and the Veteran's military service.

The Board granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, right and left lower extremity radiculopathy, but denied service connection for right knee arthritis, left knee arthritis, a right shoulder contusion, left shoulder arthritis, cervical spine arthritis, right upper extremity tremors, and left upper extremity tremors.

The Board granted service connection for lumbar, cervical, left hip, and right hip disorders as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected orthopedic conditions.

The Board remands the case for further evidentiary development, including obtaining additional medical records and examinations.

The Board granted service connection for degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine and radiculopathy of the right upper extremity, remanded several other issues including a rating increase for major depressive disorder, an acquired psychiatric disorder, disorders of the hands, and a foot disorder.

The Board granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities effective January 14, 2018, but denied increased ratings for the lumbar and cervical spine disabilities.