Neck / cervical spine decisions — 2025

The Board granted service connection for a cervical spine condition, right ankle condition, and left ankle condition but denied service connection for sinusitis. The rating for the low back condition was also adjusted.

The Board granted service connection for lumbosacral strain, cervical strain, right lower extremity radiculopathy as secondary to the lumbosacral strain, and left lower extremity radiculopathy as secondary to the lumbosacral strain.

The Board granted service connection for a left shoulder condition, thoracolumbar spine condition, and cervical spine condition as they are directly related to the Veteran's active military service.

The Board finds that the Veteran is in need of personal care services for a minimum of six continuous months due to an inability to complete ADLs such as bathing, dressing himself, and toileting.

The veteran withdrew the appeal for all service connection claims, and the Board has no jurisdiction to review these matters.

The Board granted service connection for lumbosacral strain, cervical strain, left shoulder strain, and right shoulder strain.

The Board granted service connection for radiculopathy of the left upper extremity and denied increased ratings for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss, while remanding claims for a cervical spine disability, hypertension, and a left shoulder disorder.

The Board denied compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for back, neck, headache, and upper extremity disabilities as the evidence did not show that these conditions were caused by VA carelessness or negligence.

The claims for service connection for cervical strain, back condition, bilateral knee condition, and left humerus bone tumor are remanded due to the need for further clarification of the Veteran's service dates and outstanding medical records.

The appeal for service connection for sleep apnea was dismissed, and the claims for rhinitis, paralysis of the right lower extremity sciatic nerve, a neck disability (cervical strain), right upper extremity nerve damage, back disability (lumbosacral strain), and paralysis of the left lower extremity sciatic nerve were denied or remanded.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and denied increased ratings for the Veteran's cervical spine, GAD with PDD, left knee, right knee, left shoulder, thoracolumbar, and migraine disabilities. The claims for service connection for acne or residuals of acne, chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), chronic sinusitis, fibromyalgia, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), respiratory insufficiency (dyspnea) were remanded.

The Board denied the veteran's request for an earlier effective date for service connection for various conditions, including cervical spine disability, numbness of upper extremities, right shoulder impingement syndrome, allergic rhinitis, and scars.

The Board granted service connection for tinnitus, migraines, a cervical strain, right rotator cuff tendinopathy (right shoulder disability), bilateral flatfoot, and a gastrointestinal disability manifested by diarrhea. The initial rating for lumbosacral sprain was denied.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for cervical spine, left shoulder, right shoulder, and low back disorders to correct pre-decisional duty to assist errors.

The Board dismissed the claims for an initial disability rating in excess of 10 percent for lumbar and cervical spine spondylolisthesis as moot because they had already been adjudicated.

The Board denied the Veteran's appeal to opt into the modernized Appeals Modernization Act of 2017 system for a neck disability, as the appeal was not timely filed.

The Board granted service connection for cervical degenerative arthritis, cervical radiculopathy of both upper extremities, thoracolumbar degenerative arthritis, and lumbar radiculopathy of both lower extremities based on the evidence showing that these conditions began during and have continued since service.

The Board denied service connection for left hip strain, right hip strain, cervical strain, kidney stones, right elbow tendonitis, and left knee strain as the evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were incurred in or caused by active military service.

The Board granted a 40% initial rating for left upper extremity paresthesia, hypoesthesia and denied higher ratings or service connection for other conditions.

The Board remands the claims for increased ratings for cervical neck sprain, right upper extremity radiculopathy, and left upper extremity radiculopathy due to inadequate medical opinions.