Neck / cervical spine decisions — 2025

The Board remands the claims for service connection for left knee meniscal tear, bilateral plantar fasciitis, cervical spine surgery, and radiculopathies as secondary to cervical spine surgery due to a pre-decisional duty-to-assist error.

The Board granted service connection for cervical spine degenerative disc disease, spondylosis, and stenosis based on the evidence showing that these conditions originated during active service.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for a lumbar spine disorder and cervical spine disorder due to inadequate VA examination opinions.

The Board remands the appeal for further development, including obtaining the Veteran's complete military personnel records and scheduling VA examinations.

The appeal for service connection for a back disability was reopened and granted, while the appeal for sleep apnea was dismissed. The Board also remanded an issue regarding degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine.

The Board denied earlier effective dates for service connection of various disabilities, except for the right and left sciatic nerve disabilities which were granted an effective date of August 18, 2020.

The Board granted the Veteran's appeal as the higher-level review (HLR) request received in July 2021 was timely.

The Board remands the claim for an increased rating for cervical strain to obtain outstanding private medical records, specifically April 2022 cervical spine X-rays.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for multiple disabilities, including a left hip disability, right hip disability, low back disability, left knee disability, right knee disability, neck disability, and left shoulder disability, to correct duty to assist errors.

The Board remands the claim for a neck disability to correct an error by the AOJ and ensure that the Veteran receives a VA examination.

The Board denied a rating in excess of 20 percent for the Veteran's right shoulder disability and remanded the claim for service connection for a cervical spine disability.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for various musculoskeletal conditions as further development is needed, including VA examinations.

The Board denied service connection for various disabilities and denied increased ratings for cold weather injuries of the hands, finding no evidence to support higher ratings or service connection.

The Board restored the 20% rating for both cervical and lumbar spine disabilities, effective October 1, 2022, as the reduction was improper. The Board also denied entitlement to a higher rating for these conditions.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for initial compensable ratings and earlier effective dates, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating or an earlier effective date.

The Board dismissed the appeal for service connection for bilateral flatfeet and denied increased ratings for degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine, radiculopathy of both upper extremities, and an earlier effective date for Dependents' Educational Assistance.

The Board granted service connection for cervical spine degenerative arthritis, resolving reasonable doubt in the Veteran's favor and finding that the condition is attributable to an in-service injury.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for cervical and lumbosacral spine disabilities to obtain addendum opinions that address the Veteran's reported post-service treatment.

The Board remands the claim for service connection for a cervical spine disorder to correct procedural errors and obtain an adequate medical opinion.

The Board denied service connection for multiple disabilities, including a cervical spine disability, left wrist disability, right shoulder disability, and others, as the weight of the evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were incurred in or aggravated by active military service.