Neck / cervical spine decisions — 2025

The Board remands the claims for service connection for a low back disability, neck disability, left leg radiculopathy, left arm radiculopathy, and right arm radiculopathy to correct a duty to assist error.

The Board granted an effective date of February 21, 2020, for the award of a 30 percent rating for cervical spine disability and a separate 20 percent rating for right upper extremity radiculopathy.

The Board granted service connection for right upper extremity cervical radiculopathy as secondary to the service-connected cervical spine DDD, and increased the rating of post concussive headache associated with TBI to 50 percent effective August 20, 2020.

The Board denied service connection for coronary artery disease, posttraumatic stress disorder, and a cervical spine disability. A 40 percent rating was granted for radiculopathy of the left lower extremity.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) as the evidence did not support that he was unable to obtain or maintain substantially gainful employment due to his service-connected major depressive disorder and degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for various conditions, including tinnitus and headaches, due to a duty-to-assist error regarding VA examinations.

The Board remands the claims for an initial evaluation more than 20 percent for degenerative arthritis of cervical spine and more than 30 percent for right upper extremity (RUE) radiculopathy and carpal tunnel syndrome to ensure adequate examinations are conducted.

The Veteran was granted a 40 percent disability rating for her service-connected lumbosacral strain with scoliosis, and the claim for TDIU prior to November 7, 2023, was also granted.

The Board denied increased ratings for the veteran's left shoulder and neck disabilities, but granted an earlier effective date for right upper extremity radiculopathy as secondary to a service-connected neck disability.

The Board remands the claim for service connection for a cervical spine disability to correct a duty to assist error, specifically to obtain outstanding VA medical records.

The Board dismissed the claims for service connection for kidney disease and an increased rating for hearing loss due to untimeliness of the Veteran's appeal, while remanding the claims for service connection for hypertension and a neck disability for further development.

The Board remands the claim for service connection for cervical spine degenerative arthritis due to an inadequate VA examination and a pre-decisional duty to assist error.

The Board granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that the evidence was in approximate balance. Other claims were remanded.

The Board granted service connection for right upper extremity, left upper extremity, right lower extremity, and left lower extremity radiculopathy associated with cervical spine degenerative disc disease (DDD) and lumbosacral strain. The appeal was denied for facial scars, increased ratings for cervical spine DDD with degenerative arthritis, lumbosacral strain, left knee meniscal and anterior cruciate ligament tear with chondrosis, limited flexion, and bilateral hearing loss.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for cervical spine disability, concussion, bilateral hand disorder, and bilateral foot pain.

The Board granted service connection for neck strain, low back disorder, and migraines based on the evidence of record.

The Board granted earlier effective dates for service connection for degenerative arthritis of the cervical and thoracolumbar spine based on new evidence associated with the claims file in August 2015.

The Board denied service connection for a back/lumbar condition, neck/cervical condition, and right upper extremity ulnar nerve impairment, to include carpal tunnel syndrome.

The Board remands the claims for lumbar spine, cervical spine, and thyroid conditions to correct pre-decisional duty to assist errors.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for an earlier effective date for service connection for a cervical spine disorder and right upper extremity radiculopathy, as there was no new and material evidence received within one year of the October 2018 rating decision.