Neck / cervical spine decisions — 2025

The Board remands the claim for a cervical spine disability to obtain a medical opinion on its etiology.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the increased evaluation of bilateral upper extremity tremors was granted, allowing an effective date of May 18, 2019. The claims for a higher rating and service connection were remanded.

The Board granted service connection for sinusitis and rhinitis, which are presumed to be related to the Veteran's exposure to fine particulate matter while serving in the Southwest Asia theater of operations during the Persian Gulf War. The claim for an earlier effective date was denied.

The Board granted service connection for various radiculopathies and cervical spine conditions, with effective dates of March 7, 2014, but no earlier, and June 23, 2014, but no earlier. It also granted an initial rating of 30 percent from March 7, 2014, for degenerative disc disease and degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine, and a 40 percent rating from June 23, 2014, for degenerative disc disease and degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine.

The Board granted service connection for a back disability and a neck disability, both of which the Veteran claims resulted from injuries incurred during his active military service.

The Board granted service connection for lower back disability, neck disability (cervicalgia), and persistent depressive disorder with cannabis use disorder as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected right knee disability. The claim for obstructive sleep apnea was denied.

The Board granted service connection for sinusitis pursuant to the PACT Act and granted a 70 percent rating for PTSD, while denying service connection for bilateral hearing loss, cervical strain, right ulnar nerve disability, right wrist disability, dermatitis, RLS, CFS, and a higher rating for an abdominal disorder.

The Board granted restoration of the 40 percent rating for left arm, effective July 14, 2021, and denied an increased rating greater than 20 percent for radiculopathy right arm. The claim for an increased rating for cervical spine was remanded.

The Board denied service connection for a neck disability and sinusitis, as there was no evidence of current disabilities during the appeal period.

The Board granted service connection for a low back disability and several related conditions, including radiculopathy of the lower extremities, neck disability, arm radiculopathy, headaches, left foot pes planus and plantar fasciitis, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), and obstructive sleep apnea. The claim for higher ratings for depressive disorder and ankle strains was denied.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for a cervical spine condition and bilateral knee condition due to inadequate medical opinions.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD is granted an earlier effective date of June 24, 2015, for the grant of a 100 percent rating. The claim to reopen and grant service connection for a cervical spine condition is also granted.

The Board denied an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for right knee osteoarthritis, granted a separate 20 percent rating for right knee instability from September 29, 2011, and granted an initial 10 percent rating for vertigo from the same date. The Board also denied service connection for restrictive lung disease, hypertension, cardiac muscle damage, testicular and groin pain, neck disability, back disability, right hand disability, right elbow disability, right shoulder disability, left shoulder disability, right hip disability, and left hip disability.

The Board remands the claim for a new medical opinion to address whether the Veteran's cervical spine disability was caused or aggravated by his service-connected disabilities, in accordance with recent legal standards.

The Board granted service connection for a cervical spine disorder and lumbar spine disorder, each with a 20 percent evaluation effective May 10, 2011.

The Board remands the claims for increased ratings for left and right upper extremity radiculopathy and cervical degenerative arthritis to correct pre-decisional errors, including failing to obtain relevant private medical treatment records and providing an adequate VA examination.

The Board granted service connection for a left knee strain as secondary to the Veteran's already service-connected right knee strain, but dismissed his appeal for tinnitus and remanded claims for cervical strain, lumbosacral strain, and other specified trauma and stressor related disorder (OST) due to inadequate medical opinions.

The Board remands the claims for increased ratings and service connection due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error.

The Veteran is granted special monthly compensation (SMC) based on the need for regular aid and attendance of another person due to service-connected disabilities other than traumatic brain injury (TBI) with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

The Board granted a 30 percent evaluation for left upper extremity radiculopathy, denied an increased rating for right upper extremity radiculopathy, restored the 20 percent rating for cervical spine degenerative disc disease, and granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability.