Neck / cervical spine decisions — 2025

The veteran withdrew his appeal for all service connection claims.

The Board granted service connection for residuals of a cervical spine injury, lumbar spine strain, and limitations of extension and flexion in both knees with arthritis, resolving all reasonable doubt in the Veteran's favor.

The Board granted service connection for a cervical spine disability, left and right upper extremity radiculopathy, and bilateral hand tremors but denied service connection for a disability manifested by symptoms of fatigue, snoring, and daytime sleepiness, claimed as chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), and denied an initial rating in excess of 30 percent for irritable bowel syndrome, an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for psoriasis of the scalp, and an initial rating of 40 percent or higher for thoracic spine strain.

The Board denied service connection for degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine, finding no evidence linking the condition to active service or an in-service motor vehicle accident.

The Board denied increased disability ratings for the Veteran's right and left foot disabilities, migraine headaches, cervical spine degenerative joint disease, and posttraumatic stress disorder at any point during the appeal period.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for a back disorder and cervical spine disorder due to the need for additional evidence and medical opinions.

The Board granted service connection for cervical spine spondylosis, hypogonadism, and scars based on evidence of in-service onset and continuity of symptoms.

The Board granted an earlier effective date of March 11, 2015, for the assignment of a 30 percent rating for degenerative disc disease (DDD) of the cervical spine, C5-6.

The Board remands the issues of service connection for hepatitis C, a respiratory disability, a low back disability, and a cervical spine disability, as well as higher ratings for the left knee and right ankle disabilities, due to inadequate medical opinions.

The Board remands the claim for service connection for degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine with spinal stenosis to obtain an addendum opinion addressing the Veteran's in-service events.

The Board remands the claims for service connection and initial rating due to the need for additional VA examinations.

The Board granted service connection for left knee strain as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected right knee strain with patellofemoral syndrome, and also granted initial ratings of 30 percent for right knee strain with patellofemoral syndrome, cervical strain, and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).

The Veteran's claim for special monthly compensation (SMC) based on the need for regular aid and attendance due to his service-connected orthopedic disabilities was granted.

The Board granted an earlier effective date of September 6, 2011, for the grant of an increased rating of 10 percent for chronic ethmoid sinusitis and dismissed entitlement to an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for chronic ethmoid sinusitis. The claim for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for a neck disability was remanded.

The Board denied an evaluation greater than 30 percent for PTSD prior to March 10, 2020 and dismissed the claim for an earlier effective date for TDIU. The claims for service connection for sleep apnea, bilateral hearing loss, degenerative arthritis of the spine with cervical osteophytes, and right ankle peroneal tendonitis were remanded.

The Board denied the Veteran's petitions to readjudicate previously denied claims for service connection due to a lack of new and relevant evidence.

The Board granted service connection for tinnitus, post-operative residuals of cervical spine surgery, L5 bilateral spondylosis with grade 1 anterolisthesis, moderate-severe foraminal stenosis, left hip osteoarthritis, right carpal tunnel syndrome, left carpal tunnel syndrome, left lateral collateral ligament sprain, pes planus, and type II diabetes mellitus. The service connection for bilateral hearing loss was denied.

The Veteran is granted special monthly compensation (SMC) at the (l) level based on his need for regular aid and attendance due to service-connected disabilities, including PTSD and chronic fatigue syndrome.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for a back disability and neck disability to correct pre-decisional duty-to-assist errors.

The Board granted service connection for a neck disability, to include cervical strain with degenerative disc disease (DDD), spinal stenosis, and bilateral upper radiculopathy, based on the evidence showing that it is at least as likely as not that the Veteran's neck disability is related to his military service.