Neck / cervical spine decisions — 2025

The Board denied service connection for gallstones, left eye disability, right eye disability, sinusitis, asbestos exposure, GERD, back disability, neck disability, and right ear hearing loss. The claims for left ear hearing loss, hypertension, and obstructive sleep apnea were remanded.

The Board denied service connection for athlete's foot, tinea pedis, a lumbar spine disorder, depression as secondary to nonservice-connected conditions, left and right foot disorders, left knee disorder, and cervical spine disorder due to the lack of evidence showing current diagnoses at any time during the appeal period.

The Board denied service connection for GERD, sleep apnea, and a cervical spine disability. The claim for a migraine headache disability was remanded for further development.

The Board granted service connection for a neck disability, left hand and wrist disabilities, TBI, left upper extremity radiculopathy, and residuals symptoms of heat stroke. The claim for CAD was denied due to the absence of a primary service-connected mental health disability.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed for lack of response within 60 days of the Board's request for clarification.

The Board granted an effective date of November 17, 2019, for service connection for cervical strain and lumbosacral strain but remanded the other issues.

The Board denied service connection for back, neck, right and left foot strains, tension headaches, pharyngotonsillitis, and right shoulder strain as the evidence did not support a finding of a nexus between these conditions and the Veteran's military service.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for various disorders, including neck pain and stiffness, back pain and stiffness, radiculopathy of upper and lower extremities, knee pain and stiffness, and ankle pain and stiffness, as the October 2023 VA examination reports did not adequately identify the Veteran's subjective symptoms such as pain, stiffness, or weakness.

The Board granted service connection for cervical strain with degenerative disc disease, right shoulder tendinopathy, and left shoulder condition. The claims for right upper extremity radiculopathy as secondary to a cervical strain were also granted. However, the claim for left upper extremity radiculopathy and gastroesophageal reflux disease were denied.

The veteran's appeal requests were denied as they were not timely filed, and good cause was not shown to extend the time for filing.

The Board granted service connection for dermatophytosis (tinea pedis and onychomycosis of the foot) with a rating of 30 percent, but denied service connection for multiple other conditions including hypokalemia, bilateral pes planus, cervical spine condition, left elbow condition, left foot hallux valgus, left hand condition, left hip condition, right hip condition, pain in left shoulder joint, right elbow condition, right hand condition, left extremity sciatica, right extremity sciatica, right knee condition, stomach issues, headaches, and obstructive sleep apnea.

The Board remands the claim for a cervical strain with degenerative arthritis of the spine to correct duty to assist errors and obtain an addendum medical opinion.

The Board granted an effective date of November 19, 2007, for the grant of service connection for cervical spine degenerative arthritis with spinal stenosis and major depressive disorder associated with cervical spine degenerative arthritis.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for post-traumatic stress disorder, a neck disability, and a dental disability for compensation purposes.

The Board granted compensation and service connection for various conditions, including those under 38 U.S.C. § 1151, as well as a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.

The appeal regarding CUE in the June 2014 rating decision to deny service connection for cervical and thoracic spine disabilities was dismissed due to an improper concurrent election of review.

The Board granted service connection for a cervical spine disability, left shoulder disability, and right shoulder disability based on the evidence showing that these conditions began during active service or are otherwise related to an in-service training incident.

The Board dismissed the claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of right upper extremity cervical radiculopathy and granted a 30 percent rating for the cervical spine disability beginning December 18, 2020.

The Board granted service connection for a left shoulder strain, cervical strain, and deviated septum but denied increased ratings for the right index finger conditions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for direct payment of attorney fees based on past due benefits awarded in a May 2024 rating decision.