Neck / cervical spine decisions — 2025

The appeal for an earlier effective date prior to December 11, 2020 for the award of a 20 percent disability evaluation for cervical spine bulging disc and mild stenosis at C5-C6 and C6-C7 with IVDS was dismissed as it is duplicative of a claim that was adjudicated by the Board.

The Board granted service connection for a right heel strain, neck disability, lower back disability, left shoulder disability, and right foot disability based on their etiological relation to in-service injuries.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for higher initial ratings and a compensable rating for various service-connected conditions, as well as remanded the claim for TDIU.

The Board denied service connection for multiple disorders, including shoulder, spine, knee, and extremity conditions, as the evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were incurred in or related to the Veteran's military service.

The Board granted earlier effective dates for the service connection of cervical radiculopathy of both upper extremities, but denied earlier effective dates for degenerative arthritis and intervertebral disc syndrome of the cervical spine, headaches, and TBI.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for left wrist/metacarpal condition and a compensable rating for cervical dysplasia, to include LEEP (x5), as it failed to provide notice of the right to a hearing under 38 C.F.R. § 3.103(b)(1) and (d)(1).

The Board granted service connection for a disability manifested by abdominal/cervical pain, finding that the Veteran's symptoms are related to her service.

The Board granted service connection for chronic urticaria and denied service connection for a cervical spine disorder other than myositis. The claims for myositis of the muscles of the cervical spine and lumbar spine were remanded.

The Board granted a 30 percent disability rating for limitation of motion of the left knee from April 20, 2015, to September 29, 2019, and a separate 10 percent disability rating for left knee instability from July 5, 2008. The Board denied a higher disability rating for cervical spine degenerative joint disease prior to August 15, 2019.

The Board remands the claim for a new VA examination to determine the etiology of the Veteran's claimed neck disability.

The Board granted service connection for cervical strain, to include pain, and readjudicated the claim for lumbar spine disability. However, it denied service connection for a lumbar spine disability.

The appeal for service connection for a third degree burn on the neck was dismissed by the Veteran. The claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and a cervical spine condition were remanded for further development.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for a cervical spine condition, including degenerative arthritis, C3-C7; cervical spine degenerative disc disease, including Intervertebral Disc Syndrome of C3-C7; cervical spinal stenosis; right hand and arm neurologic condition, including right cervical radiculopathy; and obstructive sleep apnea to correct a duty to assist error that occurred prior to the August 2020 rating decisions on appeal.

The appeals for service connection for a left ankle disability and a neck disability have been withdrawn by the appellant.

The Board granted service connection for tinnitus, resolving all reasonable doubt in the Veteran's favor. The claim for posttraumatic residual pain of the cervical and cervico-thoracic region was remanded for further development.

The Board granted service connection for rhinitis and dismissed the claims for kidney disease, special monthly compensation based on need for aid and attendance, and other conditions that were remanded.

The Board denied service connection for asthma, hypertension, and vertigo. The claims for bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy were also denied as not secondary to a service-connected disability. Some claims for various musculoskeletal conditions of the cervical spine, shoulders, elbows, wrists, hips, knees, ankles, feet, and fibromyalgia are remanded for further development.

The Board granted a 40 percent rating for the low back disability, left lower extremity radiculopathy, and right lower extremity radiculopathy from July 6, 2022. Service connection was denied for a cervical spine disorder.

The Board remands the claims for increased disability ratings for service-connected cervical strain and right ankle strain to afford the Veteran an orthopedic examination.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for migraines, a cervical spine disability, and a lumbar spine disability as there was no evidence of an in-service disease or injury, and the post-service medical records did not show that these conditions were related to his service.