Neck / cervical spine decisions — 2025

The Board granted a rating of 40 percent for lumbar degenerative disc disease and 30 percent for degenerative cervical spondylosis, effective March 6, 2016. The claim for an earlier effective date for TDIU was denied.

The Board granted service connection for a low back disability and a neck disability, finding that the Veteran's current degenerative arthritis in these areas began during his service and has persisted ever since.

The Board remands the claim for a neck disorder to obtain an adequate VA medical opinion addressing the nature and etiology of the Veteran's current neck condition, including whether it is related to her military service.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for cervical and bilateral upper extremities radiculopathy disabilities, as secondary to service-connected shoulders disabilities, due to inadequate medical evidence.

The veteran withdrew her appeals for the issues of service connection for bilateral patellar tendinitis, tinnitus, and the proposed reduction in her disability rating for cervical stenosis/IVDS.

The Board granted a 40 percent rating for the cervical spine disability, a 30 percent rating for left upper extremity radiculopathy, and restored a 40 percent rating for right upper extremity radiculopathy.

The Board granted an increased rating of 40 percent for the Veteran's cervical spine degenerative disc disease, status post fusion and discectomy with limitation of motion, effective August 10, 2023. The Board also granted service connection for left upper extremity radiculopathy as secondary to the Veteran's cervical spine disorder.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and remanded a claim for service connection for right hip pain.

The Board denied service connection for lumbar spine degenerative arthritis with DDD, a cervical condition as secondary to the claimed lumbar degenerative changes, and bilateral upper extremity nerve conditions as secondary to a cervical disability.

The Board granted a 20 percent disability rating for cervical strain and a separate 10 percent rating for limited lateral excursion range of motion due to TMJD, while denying an initial rating higher than 70 percent for PTSD and dismissing the claim for a rating higher than 10 percent for allergic rhinitis as moot.

The Board dismissed the appeals for higher ratings on all claims due to untimely Notices of Disagreement.

The Board granted the restoration of a 20 percent rating for cervical strain from October 1, 2024, and denied compensable ratings for bilateral hearing loss, scars on both knees, upper extremity radiculopathies, and service connection for wrist disorders.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a neck disability, finding that there was no evidence to support a link between the condition and his military service.

The Board remands the case for additional development to ensure compliance with prior remand directives.

The appeal for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for cervical spine disability was dismissed, and claims for increased ratings were denied.

The Board dismissed the claims for service connection for ADHD and spondylolisthesis, cervical spinal stenosis, and neck strain as they were not ripe for review. The remaining claims are remanded for further development.

The Board denied service connection for right shoulder impingement syndrome, allergic rhinitis, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus. However, it granted service connection for headaches and remanded the claims for an initial rating in excess of 50 percent for adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood and alcohol use disorder.

The Board remands the claims for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine and entitlement to total disability based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for right shoulder disability, left shoulder disability, and neck disability due to a duty to assist error.

The Board remands the claim for service connection for cervical strain to ensure a new medical opinion is obtained and relevant private records are obtained.