Neck / cervical spine decisions — 2025

The Board remands the claims for service connection for a cervical spine disability and left upper extremity neurological disability due to insufficient evidence.

The Board granted service connection for cervical spine degenerative disc disease and lumbar strain, resolving reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 70 percent for posttraumatic stress disorder and an earlier effective date, and remanded claims for service connection for cervical spondylitis and syringomyelia.

The Board granted service connection for cervical spine strain and left ankle strain, but remanded the claim for a recurrent right elbow disability including right elbow strain.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for a back disability, neck disability, and vestibular disability to schedule appropriate VA examinations.

The Board granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) but denied earlier effective dates for the cervical spine and left upper extremity radiculopathy claims, and remanded an increased rating claim for the cervical spine.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities likely precluded him from obtaining and sustaining substantially gainful employment, leading to the grant of a TDIU. However, his cervical spine disability was not linked to his military service.

The Board remands the claim for service connection for cervical spine to correct a duty to assist error that occurred prior to the July 2021 rating decision.

The Board remands the claims for service connection and initial ratings due to a missing official military personnel file (OMPF) and service treatment records (STRs).

The Board denied service connection for cervical spine, lumbar spine, left shoulder, right shoulder, and right elbow disorders as there was no evidence of in-service injury or disease, continuity of symptomatology, or a nexus to military service.

The Board granted service connection for a left knee condition, cervical spine condition, and right ankle condition based on the evidence showing that these conditions originated during the Veteran's active-duty service.

The appeal was dismissed as a matter of law due to the August 2020 letter not constituting an adjudicative determination by the Department of Veterans Affairs.

The Board denied a rating in excess of 10 percent for degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine, finding that the Veteran's symptoms did not warrant a higher rating.

The Board granted an effective date of August 31, 2022, for the award of service connection for multiple conditions including adjustment disorder with anxiety and depressed mood, chronic (claimed as depression), deviated septum with rhinitis, vertigo, sleep apnea, cervical strain (claimed as neck condition), left and right upper extremity radiculopathy, and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).

The appeal for service connection for PTSD is dismissed due to untimely filing of the notice of disagreement.,Service connection for headaches is granted based on a current diagnosis and onset during active service.,Service connection for cervical strain is granted as it had its onset in service and symptoms have been continuous since then.,The appeal for service connection for right hip strain is denied due to lack of evidence of an in-service injury or disease.,The appeal for service connection for left hip strain is denied due to lack of evidence of an in-service injury or disease.,The appeal for service connection for right knee strain is denied due to lack of evidence of an in-service injury or disease.,The appeal for service connection for left knee strain is denied due to lack of evidence of an in-service injury or disease.,The appeal for service connection for right shoulder strain is denied due to lack of evidence of an in-service injury or disease.,The appeal for service connection for left shoulder strain is denied due to lack of evidence of an in-service injury or disease.,For the initial rating period from May 9, 2023, a compensable (10 percent) disability rating for residuals of a right-hand fracture is not granted.

The appeal for service connection for PTSD, allergies, asthma, GERD, gastrointestinal problems, left knee condition, right knee condition, sleep apnea, and thoracolumbar strain was dismissed due to a procedural defect in the filing of the Notice of Disagreement.

The Board granted service connection for a cervical strain, finding that new and relevant evidence had been submitted and the Veteran's statements regarding his ongoing symptoms since service were competent and credible.

The Board granted service connection for the Veteran's neck and back disabilities, resolving reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Board remands all claims for service connection due to a duty to assist error, specifically the need to obtain Social Security Administration records and an addendum opinion regarding vertigo.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for cervical spine, lumbar spine, right leg, and acquired psychiatric disorders to obtain additional medical opinions.