Neck / cervical spine decisions — 2025

The Board denied service connection for various disabilities, including cervical spine, back, shoulder, elbow, wrist, vertigo, and hypothyroidism, as there was no evidence of an in-service event, injury, illness, or disease related to these disabilities. The claim for a sleep apnea disability was also denied due to the lack of a current diagnosis.

The Board denied service connection for pneumonia and pneumonia residuals, while remanding the claims for service connection for migraine headaches, cervical strain (claimed as degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine), radiculopathy in both upper extremities.

The Board denied service connection for obstructive sleep apnea due to the lack of a current diagnosis, and remanded the claim for a back condition for further development.

The appeal for increased ratings for back and cervical spine disabilities was dismissed as a matter of law.

The Veteran's service connection for cervical spine strain was granted, while a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss and an earlier effective date were denied.

The Board granted an effective date of September 1, 2021, for service connection for the Veteran's thoracic spine, cervical spine, right foot, painful scar, status-post varicocele surgery, left lower abdomen, right knee, bilateral tinnitus, and right lower extremity neuropathy disabilities.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates and increased ratings, finding that there was no evidence of worsening or increase in severity within the year prior to April 9, 2021.

The Board granted service connection for low back degenerative disc disease (DDD) with spondylosis, a post-surgical low back scar, and sciatic radiculopathy of both lower extremities. It also granted an increased rating of 30 percent for cervical spine disc protrusions.

The claims for an evaluation in excess of 10 percent prior to December 23, 2019, and an evaluation in excess of 30 percent from December 23, 2019, for intervertebral disc syndrome with spondylotic myelopathy, cervical spine are remanded due to pre-decisional errors in the duty to assist.

The Board granted service connection for left lower extremity radiculopathy, sciatic nerve as secondary to the service-connected thoracic strain with thoracolumbar degenerative arthritis and degenerative disc disease but denied service connection for a neck disability and remanded the claim for tension headaches.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection, as well as remanded several other claims for further development.

The Board remands the claims for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss, service connection for cervical spine and wrist disabilities, and service connection for finger disabilities due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's GERD and migraine headaches were granted service connection, while ratings in excess of 10% for knee conditions and shin splints were denied. The Board also remanded several other claims for further development.

The Board denied service connection for a cervical strain disability and a lumbar strain disability as the evidence did not support that these conditions began during active service or are related to an in-service injury.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of cervical cancer, finding that there was no evidence to support a link between her condition and her military service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for an earlier effective date, service connection, and increased ratings.

The Board granted service connection for sinusitis, denied service connection for chronic adjustment disorder, and dismissed the appeal for lumbosacral or cervical strain (back pain) due to untimely notice of disagreement.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating or service connection for any of the conditions appealed.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for cervical strain, nerve damage in the right foot, and erectile dysfunction to obtain additional evidence and medical opinions.

The Board granted an effective date of November 16, 2021, for the grant of service connection for cervical strain and various right knee conditions.