Neck / cervical spine decisions — 2025

The appeal for service connection for a right shoulder strain was denied, while the appeals for service connection for left ankle strain, right ankle strain, lumbar strain, cervical strain, and bilateral pes planus were remanded.

The Board denied service connection for a cervical spine condition and residuals of a traumatic brain injury, finding no evidence linking these conditions to the Veteran's military service.

The Board granted service connection for degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine and thoracolumbar spine, resolving all reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Board remands the claims for a cervical spine disability and left knee disability, to include as secondary to service-connected lower back disability, for new VA opinions.

The Board denied service connection for insomnia, right ear hearing loss, and a neck disability. The claims for PTSD and left ear hearing loss were also denied. However, the claims for left knee, right knee, and back disabilities were remanded.

The Board granted service connection for cervical hematoma as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected renal disability, and also granted service connection for right upper extremity paralysis and loss of use of both hands due to the cervical hematoma.

The Board granted service connection for right hip disability and cervical spine disability, finding that the Veteran's disabilities had their onset in service.

The Board remands the issue of service connection for intervertebral disc syndrome with degenerative arthritis and acute cervical strain post motor vehicle accident without residuals due to pre-decisional duty to assist errors.

The Veteran was granted a separate 30 percent rating for syringomyelia, but the claims for higher ratings for cervical spine degenerative arthritis and for separate or compensable ratings for sinus conditions were denied.

The Board granted an initial rating of 30 percent for the Veteran's cervical fusion (neck disability) from January 22, 2016.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection of migraine headaches, cervical spine strain, and bilateral upper extremity radiculopathy.

The Board granted a 40 percent rating for chronic lumbar strain, restored the 10 percent rating for right knee patellofemoral syndrome effective February 11, 2023, and granted separate 10 percent ratings for instability of the right knee. The decision also granted a 70 percent rating for PTSD from June 8, 2021, and TDIU based on PTSD alone from August 21, 2021, along with SMC under 38 U.S.C. § 1114(s) based on housebound status from the same date.

The Board denied service connection for radiculopathy of the upper and lower extremities, but remanded claims for a neck disability, lower back disability, right shoulder disability, left ankle disability, and right ankle disability.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to January 27, 2021, for the grant of a 40 percent disability rating for right upper extremity radiculopathy was granted.

The Board granted service connection for a right shoulder disability, cervical and lumbar spine disabilities, and secondary service connection for cervical and lumbar radiculopathies.

The Board denied service connection for headache, back, neck, and left shoulder disabilities as the conditions were not shown to be chronic in service or manifest within the applicable presumptive period; continuity of symptomatology was not established; and there was no evidence linking the disabilities to an in-service injury or disease.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for cervical spine pain, low back pain with degenerative changes of the lumbosacral spine, and right shoulder condition to secure a VA examination and opinion.

The Board grants service connection for cervical strain, lumbosacral strain, and right knee strain status post ACL reconstruction based on the evidence of record.

The Board remands the appeal for further evidentiary development and to schedule VA examinations.

The Board dismissed the claims for service connection for chronic left hip and leg pain, upper back pain, and two instances of neck disability due to untimely Notice of Disagreement filings. The claims for lumbar spine and right foot disabilities were remanded for further development.