Neck / cervical spine decisions — 2025

The Veteran's PTSD with mild alcohol use disorder in partial remission was granted a disability rating of 70 percent, but no more, on and after July 19, 2021. Other claims for increased ratings were denied.

The Board granted service connection for cervical spine disability, finding that the evidence is at least in approximate balance that it manifested to a compensable degree within one year of discharge and has persisted since separation.

The Board granted a 70 percent rating for PTSD, but denied higher ratings and increased initial ratings for other conditions.

The appeal resulted in a denial of an earlier effective date for the cervical spine disability and dismissal of the claim for an earlier effective date for left upper extremity radiculopathy, while granting a 30 percent rating for left upper extremity radiculopathy.

The Board remands all claims for service connection due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error and an insufficient VA examination.

The Board denied service connection for seizures and restored a 20 percent disability evaluation for the Veteran's cervical strain with intervertebral disc syndrome and degenerative arthritis of the spine with spinal stenosis effective October 12, 2021.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, a left ankle disability, and an initial compensable rating for pseudofolliculitis barbae of the face. The claims for service connection for various other disabilities were remanded.

The Board granted service connection for cervical degenerative disc disease, finding that the evidence supports a causal relationship between the condition and an in-service motor vehicle accident.

The Board remands the claims for an upper back/neck disability, migraine headaches, and a right wrist disability to address deficiencies in the evidence.

The Board granted service connection for cervical spine degenerative arthritis with cervical spine fusion and spinal stenosis, left upper extremity radiculopathy, right upper extremity radiculopathy, left hip degenerative joint disease, and right hip degenerative joint disease, all as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine disability.

The Board dismissed the claims for an initial compensable rating for irritable bowel syndrome, service connection for bilateral hearing loss, mental health disorder, right hand burn scars, and tinnitus as the AOJ did not readjudicate these issues in the May 2024 rating decision. The claim for service connection for cervical strain was denied due to a lack of evidence showing a current disability.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including unspecified depressive disorder with anxious distress, migraine headache disorder, tinnitus, cervical strain, right hand finger disorders, left hand arthritis, and right knee strain, as the evidence did not support a finding that these conditions began during active service or were otherwise related to an in-service injury.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for cervical strain, left hand tendinopathy with tenosynovitis, right hand tendinopathy with tenosynovitis, left hip, snapping hip syndrome, right hip condition, left shoulder bicipital tendonitis with rotator cuff tendonitis, right shoulder bicipital tendonitis with rotator cuff tendonitis, left lower extremity shin splints, and tension headaches for readjudication due to new and relevant evidence received since the January 2022 rating decision.

The Veteran's service connection for hypertension is granted, while the evaluation greater than 20 percent for hemorrhoids is denied. Several claims for service connection are remanded.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for hypercholesterolemia, finding it to be a laboratory finding and not a disability. The claims for BPPV, oligospermia, and neck disability were remanded due to incomplete or inadequate VA examinations.

The Board granted an initial evaluation of 40 percent for the lumbar condition and 30 percent for the cervical condition, but remanded other claims including service connection for a left elbow condition and evaluations for various knee and hand conditions.

The Veteran's need for regular aid and attendance was not due to service-connected disabilities, and therefore special monthly compensation based on the need for regular aid and attendance or being housebound for accrued benefits is denied.

The Board denied increased ratings for cervical spine degenerative disc disease and osteoarthritis, as well as right upper extremity radiculopathy of the upper and middle radicular nerve groups.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for a low back, neck, bilateral leg, and bilateral hand disabilities to ensure compliance with previous remand directives.

The Board denied service connection for a right shoulder disability and cervical spine disability as the evidence did not support that these conditions began during active service or are otherwise related to an in-service injury, event, or disease.