Neck / cervical spine decisions — 2025

The Board denied service connection for a left foot bunion and a compensable rating for a right big toe scar, while remanding several other issues including entitlement to ratings in excess of 10 percent for right foot bunion deformity, ovarian cyst, persistent depressive disorder dysthymia (also claimed as generalized anxiety disorder), cervical strain, and superficial numbness, right distal outer ear.

The Board remands the claim for service connection for cervical spine injury, bulging disc to afford the Veteran a VA examination and obtain an adequate medical opinion.

The Board granted service connection for cervical spine degenerative arthritis as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected right shoulder strain with calcific tendonitis, but denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The lower back disability claim was remanded.

The Board granted service connection for lumbar spine, cervical spine, and left shoulder disabilities based on the Veteran's consistent reports of symptoms beginning in service. The right hip disability claim was remanded for further development.

The Board granted a 50 percent disability rating for migraine headaches, effective January 1, 2024, and denied earlier effective dates for the awards of service connection and increased ratings for various conditions.

The Board denied an increased disability rating in excess of 40 percent for right upper extremity radiculopathy and remanded the claims for higher ratings for post operative residuals, multiple dislocations of the right shoulder with degenerative arthritis, and degenerative arthritis and degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine, as well as a TDIU claim.

The Board granted service connection for a neck disability and a lower back disability, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are related to an in-service event.

The Board denied service connection for visual impairment and remanded the claims for cervical strain, eczema, and lumbosacral strain.

The Board granted effective dates of September 17, 2012, for the cervical spine disability and associated neurological impairments, headache disability; November 29, 2018, for the lumbar spine disability and associated neurological impairments of the bilateral legs; April 22, 2019, for the psychiatric disability; and April 22, 2019, for the six separately-rated bilateral hip disabilities.

The Board granted an effective date of September 15, 2022 for the increased rating of 40 percent for low back pain and August 7, 2023 for service connection for left lower extremity radiculopathy.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for degenerative arthritis of cervical spine, left upper extremity radiculopathy, right upper extremity radiculopathy, and scar on neck as secondary to a lumbar spine disability due to an inadequate VA examination.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for various disabilities, including right and left ankle, neck, right shoulder, left shoulder, left elbow, and right knee disabilities, as new evidence has been received that warrants readjudication.

The appeal for service connection for posttraumatic stress disorder was dismissed as the issue is moot due to a full grant of benefits. The claims for increased ratings and service connection for other conditions were remanded for further development.

The appeal for service connection for a cervical condition was dismissed due to the untimely filing of a notice of disagreement within one year of notification.

The Board granted service connection for cervical strain and right lower extremity disability, both secondary to the Veteran's spine disability, but denied service connection for a recurrent earache disability. The rating was increased from 20% to 40% prior to December 27, 2024.

The Board granted service connection for a cervical spine disability, including degenerative disc disease (DDD)/arthritis, based on continuity of symptomatology and presumptive provisions.

The Board denied the claim for special monthly compensation (SMC) based on the need for regular aid and attendance or at the housebound rate prior to August 22, 2018.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for a back disability and a neck disability to ensure that VA fulfills its duty to assist in obtaining any outstanding service treatment records.

The Board granted a 70 percent disability rating for adjustment disorder with anxiety and remanded other issues for further development.

The Board remands the Veteran's claims for service connection for a disability of the cervical spine, left knee, and bilateral foot to the AOJ for correction of pre-decisional duty to assist errors.