Neck / cervical spine decisions — 2025

The Board remands the claim for service connection for a cervical spine condition due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error, specifically, failure to obtain a medical examination and opinion.

The Board denied service connection for several conditions, including cervical spine disorder, upper extremity radiculopathy, hand and thumb joint pain, allergic rhinitis, sinusitis, bilateral hearing loss, and pes planus. However, the claim for tinnitus was granted.

The Board remands the Veteran's claims for a disability rating in excess of 10 percent and in excess of 20 percent for cervical strain, right upper extremity radiculopathy, and left upper extremity radiculopathy due to insufficient evidence regarding the effects of medication on the severity of these disabilities during flare-ups.

The Board granted service connection for rectal scarring, rash, and discomfort due to an in-service sexual assault. The claims for other conditions were remanded for further development.

The Board of Veterans' Appeals remands the claims for service connection for various disabilities, including OSA, bilateral hearing loss, shoulder and spine disabilities, right foot disability, CAD, HTN, and gallbladder removal residuals.

The Board granted service connection for a neck disability and bilateral shoulder disability, resolving all doubt in the Veteran's favor.

The Board denied increased disability ratings for the Veteran's right shoulder degenerative joint disease and cervical spine degenerative disk disease, as the criteria for higher ratings were not met.

The Board remands the claims for further development, including obtaining private medical records and additional information regarding the Veteran's employment history.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for cervical spine condition, right knee arthritis, left knee arthritis, sleep apnea, and residuals of a traumatic brain injury (TBI) for further development.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a lumbar spine disorder and a cervical spine disorder, as there was no evidence of a causal relationship between these conditions and his active service.

The Board remands the issue of entitlement to service connection for a cervical spine disability, to include DJD, for an adequate medical opinion based on the factual premise that the Veteran began to experience neck pain as a result of a September 1959 swimming incident.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for lumbosacral strain, degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine, and residuals of hysterectomy to obtain additional medical opinions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for an earlier effective date and increased ratings for degenerative arthritis with spondylosis of the cervical spine and right shoulder tendinitis.

The Board denied service connection for a left shoulder and neck disability as there was no evidence of current disabilities during the appeal period.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for back disability, neck disability, and psychiatric disability due to missing service medical records and a need for additional evidence.

The Board granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's ringing in his ears began during service and has continued to the present day. The claims for service connection for cervical spine strain, left shoulder strain, right shoulder strain, right knee strain, left knee strain, right lower extremity shin splints, and left lower extremity shin splints were remanded for further development.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for a right knee disability, lumbar spine disability, cervical spine disability, migraines, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus to obtain additional evidence.

The Board granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected lumbosacral spine disability, but denied service connection and higher ratings for hypertension, diabetes mellitus, type II, GERD, cervical strain with degenerative joint disease and IVDS, right upper extremity radiculopathy, and left upper extremity radiculopathy.

The Board remands the claim for a medical addendum opinion to determine if the Veteran's cervical intervertebral disc syndrome with degenerative arthritis is related to service and whether it was caused or aggravated by his service-connected disabilities.

The Board granted service connection for a cervical spine disability, finding that the Veteran's current condition is related to his active military service.