Neck / cervical spine decisions — 2025

The Board denied service connection for a cervical spine disability and a lumbar spine disability as there is no evidence of a current disability separate from nerve-related conditions, and the Veteran's in-service back complaint is not related to his current back pain.

The Board denied service connection for right ear hearing loss and granted a 70 percent evaluation for PTSD, while denying other claims. The remaining claims were remanded.

The Board denied higher ratings for the Veteran's cervical spine strain with arthritis, left and right upper extremity radiculopathy, and tinnitus, and dismissed a freestanding earlier effective date claim for tinnitus. The Board remanded service connection for urinary frequency/incontinence.

The Board granted a 20 percent rating for right foot injury residuals and remanded the claims for service connection for cervical strain and left knee arthritis, as new and relevant evidence has been received.

The appeal for an earlier effective date for the award of service connection for bilateral hearing loss was dismissed, and appeals for earlier effective dates for cervical disc disease, lumbar degenerative disc disease, arthritis in both hands, and right ankle sprain were denied.

The Board granted a separate rating of 10 percent effective February 1, 2021, for the Veteran's service-connected left trapezius strain (claimed as cervical spine condition).

The Board denied service connection for cervical spine degenerative arthritis with degenerative disc disease, left ankle lateral collateral ligament sprain, right ankle lateral collateral ligament sprain, left knee osteoarthritis, and right knee osteoarthritis as there was no evidence of a current disability that began during service or is at least as likely as not related to an in-service injury, event, or disease.

The Board granted a rating of 20 percent for the Veteran's right eye disability and denied a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss. The remaining claims for service connection were remanded.

The Board granted service connection for a left shoulder disability, to include osteoarthritis, and an effective date of April 20, 2017, but not earlier, for the award of service connection for radiculopathy of the left lower extremity. Other claims were denied or remanded.

The Board granted a 50 percent rating for migraine headaches and remanded the claim for an increased rating for GERD, mild hiatal hernia, and erosive esophagitis. Other claims were denied.

The Veteran's appeal request was denied as it was not timely filed within one year of the rating decision.

The Veteran's cervical spine disability was granted a 30 percent rating effective May 10, 2010, and a 60 percent rating from June 4, 2014, to November 3, 2019. The LUE radiculopathy associated with the cervical spine disability was granted a 40 percent rating.

The Board remands the issue of entitlement to service connection for a low back disability for additional development, including obtaining a VA examination related to cold weather training and presumed exposure to Agent Orange.

The Board denied the Veteran's appeal regarding whether he needed to file a separate claim for a cervical spine disability, as his informal claim was deemed abandoned due to lack of response within one year.

The Board denied service connection for a sleep disability, endometriosis, and a heart disability. The rating assigned was 40 percent for right upper extremity radiculopathy from March 27, 2018, and 30 percent for left upper extremity radiculopathy from July 3, 2017.

The Board remands the claim for service connection for cervical disc disease due to an insufficient VA opinion and a need to obtain additional medical records.

The Board denied service connection for the veteran's right shoulder, right knee, cervical spine, and bilateral upper extremity radiculopathy disabilities as there was no evidence to support a finding that any of these conditions began during active service or are otherwise related to an in-service injury or disease.

The Board denied an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection and a higher initial rating for cervical spine degenerative disc disease with osteoarthritis and spondylosis.

The Veteran's appeal was withdrawn and dismissed by the Veteran's representative prior to the requested hearing, as the Veteran was satisfied with his current ratings.

The Board granted service connection for GERD, resolving all doubt in the Veteran's favor. The remaining claims are remanded.