Neck / cervical spine decisions — 2025

The Board remands the case for further development and readjudication, including an examination to determine the current nature and severity of the cervical spine and lumbar spine disabilities and any associated radiculopathies, as well as the etiology of headaches.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for spinal stenosis with degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine and a skin condition, to include eczema, as there were errors in the duty to assist that need correction.

The Board denied earlier effective dates for the grants of service connection and increased ratings for various radiculopathies and cervical spine degenerative arthritis with IVDS.

The Veteran's rheumatoid arthritis of the cervical spine was granted a 20 percent rating from December 8, 2021, to October 12, 2022, while other claims for increased ratings were denied.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for a low back disability, neck disability, and headaches as further development is needed.

The Board remands the issues of entitlement to an earlier effective date for service connection and basic eligibility for Dependents' Educational Assistance due to a lack of documentation regarding efforts made to contact the RO in Los Angeles, California, for records that might corroborate the Veteran's claim.

The Board denied service connection for lumbar disk disease with mild lumbar spondylosis, cervical disc disease with spondylosis, and an acquired psychiatric disability to include major depressive disorder as the evidence did not support a finding of a nexus between these conditions and the Veteran's military service.

The Board denied service connection for a left knee disability, lumbar spine disability, and cervical spine disability as the evidence did not support a finding that these conditions began in service or are otherwise related to service.

The Board granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, to include alcohol use disorder, mood disorder, and anxiety disorder secondary to traumatic brain injury (TBI), but denied service connection for right ear hearing loss, a left eye condition, cervical spine degenerative arthritis, spondylosis, and bilateral wrist tendonitis.

The Board granted an effective date of April 7, 2008, for the award of service connection for cervical spine degenerative arthritis, lumbar spine degenerative arthritis, and left lower extremity radiculopathy.

The Board granted service connection for degenerative joint disease of the cervical spine and radiculopathy affecting both upper and lower extremities, while dismissing the claim for cervicogenic headaches.

The Board denied the Veteran's appeal for an initial compensable disability rating for left hip strain with limitation of extension and remanded several other service connection claims.

The appeal for service connection for right ear hearing loss and entitlement to an initial compensable disability rating for the service-connected left ear hearing loss was dismissed.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus, prostate cancer, and an increased rating for other specified trauma- and stressor-related disorder. The Veteran's claims for service connection for degenerative joint disease of multiple joints were remanded.

The Board granted an effective date of August 10, 2022, for the award of service connection for monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance and remanded claims related to other conditions.

The Board granted a 70 percent rating for PTSD and denied an increased rating for bilateral hearing loss. Several service connection claims were remanded.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for cervical strain, lumbosacral and thoracic strain, and traumatic brain injury.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, cervical spine disability (neck), and left shoulder disability as the evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were incurred in or related to service.

The Board granted service connection for anxiety and depression, but remanded the claim for cervicalgia to obtain a more thorough examination.

The Board granted service connection for back disability, right knee disability, and neck disability. The claim for psoriasis was dismissed.