Neck / cervical spine decisions — 2025

The Board denied service connection for a neck disability and a right hip disability, finding that the evidence does not support a causal relationship between these conditions and the Veteran's active military service.

The Board granted earlier effective dates for the grant of service connection for left and right lower extremity radiculopathy (femoral and sciatic nerves) but denied earlier effective dates for upper extremity radiculopathy, cervical strain, DEA benefits, and a higher disability rating for lumbar spine spinal stenosis with intervertebral disc syndrome.

The Board denied service connection for a back disability, neck disability, hearing loss, and migraine headaches, but remanded the claim for tinnitus.

The Board remands the claim for service connection for a neck condition to correct a pre-decisional duty to assist error, specifically to provide the Veteran with a VA examination.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for a cervical spine disorder, left shoulder disorder, and acquired psychiatric disorder as new and relevant evidence has been received.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for a neck disability and low back disability for further development, including obtaining additional medical opinions.

The claim for service connection for a cervical spine disability is remanded for further development, including obtaining new etiology opinions.

The Board remands the issue of entitlement to an initial rating in excess of 20 percent for service-connected lumbar strain prior to April 2023 for further evidentiary development.

The Board denied an initial rating in excess of 20 percent for left shoulder tendinitis and remanded claims for service connection for left knee arthralgia and cervical strain.

The Board denied service connection for a lumbar spine disability and cervical spine disability, as there was no evidence linking the conditions to the Veteran's active duty.

The Board granted service connection for a cervical spine condition, finding a causal link between the Veteran's military service and his current condition.

The appeal was dismissed due to an impermissible concurrent election of review options under the Appeals Modernization Act.

The Board remands the issue of entitlement to service connection for a cervical spine disability for a new examination as no VA examiner has opined whether the Veteran's cervical spine disability is related to his in-service injury.

The Board remands the claim for service connection for a cervical condition to ensure that all necessary development is completed, including obtaining additional medical evidence and an addendum opinion.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for multiple conditions to correct a duty to assist error by ensuring VA examinations are conducted.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for various disabilities to correct duty to assist errors, specifically related to the Veteran's failure to report for scheduled examinations without good cause.

The Board remands all service connection claims for further development, including VA examinations to determine the current nature and etiology of the claimed disabilities.

The Board denied increased ratings for the veteran's PTSD, degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine with IVDS and spinal stenosis, degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine, right upper extremity radiculopathy, bilateral hearing loss, hypertension, and erectile dysfunction.

The Board granted a 10 percent evaluation for hypertension and denied an initial compensable evaluation for hypothyroidism, as well as higher ratings for coronary artery disease. Service connection was denied for a bladder disability, diverticulosis, and a neck disability.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for cervical spine, left shoulder, and thoracolumbar spine disabilities to obtain an addendum opinion addressing the Veteran's lay statements of continuity.