Neck / cervical spine decisions — 2026

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient service treatment records and a need to ensure VA has satisfied its duty to assist in obtaining these records.

The Board has remanded the claims for cervical strain and an initial rating in excess of 30 percent for right ulnar nerve and radial nerve transposition upper extremity due to a duty to assist error. Specifically, VA is required to attempt to obtain non-VA treatment records related to the Veteran's right upper extremity nerve and neck disabilities.

The Board has remanded the issues of increased disability ratings for cervical and lumbar spine disabilities due to insufficient evidence in the record. The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability is also being remanded.

The Board has denied the veteran's claim for service connection for a neck disability, finding that there is no evidence to support an in-service injury or disease and that his current condition does not appear related to his military service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for post-traumatic headaches, PTSD with TBI, left non-dominant shoulder instability subluxation chronic with clavicle dislocation, recurrent dislocation, and cervical strain with muscle spasms were denied as the Veteran failed to appear at scheduled VA examinations without providing good cause.,The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for non-dominant shoulder instability subluxation chronic with clavicle dislocation and left non-dominant shoulder instability subluxation chronic with recurrent dislocation were also denied due to failure to appear at the scheduled VA examinations.

The Board has remanded several claims, including service connection for various conditions and an increased rating for right shoulder disability. The Veteran's appeal is currently under review.

The Veteran's increased disability ratings for right shoulder and right knee conditions were assigned effective October 17, 2022. The earlier effective date claims are denied as the evidence does not show an increase in severity prior to this date.,Service connection for fracture 4th metacarpal right hand, with ossicle deformity was granted in July 2002 and is still pending. The claim for service connection for cervical strain must be dismissed due to lack of earlier effective dates.,The Veteran's left shoulder condition has been awarded service connection effective October 17, 2022. No earlier effective date is warranted as the claim was pending until a February 2024 rating decision.,Service connection for fracture 4th metacarpal right hand, with ossicle deformity remains noncompensable under Diagnostic Code 5230 due to pain and gradual worsening over years. No compensable rating is assigned.

The Board has denied service connection for various conditions, including bilateral venous disability, acquired psychiatric disability (claimed as depression and PTSD), erectile dysfunction, hiatal hernia, left knee disability, left shoulder disability, right shoulder disability, and cervical spine disability. The issue of hypertension is dismissed due to lack of jurisdiction.

The Board has readjudicated the claims for service connection for PTSD, bilateral hearing loss disability, cervical spine disability, skin disability, and peripheral neuropathy of both upper extremities. The decision is mixed as some issues are granted while others are remanded.

The Board has remanded the service connection claims for bilateral wrist, hand, and neck disabilities due to inadequate medical opinions regarding whether these conditions are caused or aggravated by a service-connected right shoulder disability.

The Veteran's claim for a 10 percent rating for residual, scar left medial thigh, status post gunshot wound is granted. The Veteran's PTSD with AUD, Moderate is rated at 70 percent and TDIU based on PTSD alone is granted. Service connection for hypertension, GERD, migraines, COPD, back disability, neck disability, right upper extremity neuropathy, left upper extremity neuropathy, and left lower extremity radiculopathy are all granted. The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent for gunshot wound right buttock with sciatic nerve involvement (to include peripheral neuropathy right leg/foot), gunshot wound, left thigh, multiple painful scars bilateral lower extremities, and residuals, scar right buttock and lateral leg is remanded.

The Board denied service connection for left shoulder and neck disabilities, finding that the current conditions are not related to in-service injuries or illnesses.

The Veteran's claim for SMC based on the need for aid and attendance is remanded due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error. The Board finds that an examination is needed to determine if the Veteran requires aid and attendance of another person due to his service-connected disabilities alone.

The Board denied service connection for thoracolumbar and cervical spine disabilities, finding that the Veteran's current conditions did not manifest in or are otherwise related to his military service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for cervical spine strain and right shoulder rotator cuff tendonitis, finding that there is no evidence of in-service injury or aggravation, and that any current disabilities are not related to military service.

The Board has granted service connection for sleep apnea as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected unspecified anxiety disorder, degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine, and cervical radiculopathy. The decision is based on evidence showing that obesity, a result of immobility due to service-connected disabilities, exacerbated the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea.

The Board has granted service connection for lower back disability, erectile dysfunction (ED), headaches, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), chronic sinusitis, vertigo, neck disability, right upper and left upper extremity radiculopathy, voiding dysfunction, pseudo folliculatis barbae, right wrist pain, left wrist pain, right hip pain, left hip pain, and right ear hearing loss.

The Veteran's service connection claims for cervical spine disability, bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy of the femoral nerve (PACT Act), and bilateral hip/ankle osteoarthritis have been granted with effective dates. DEA eligibility has also been established.

The Board has denied service connection for various conditions, including a stomach condition, neck disability, lower back disability, bulging discs in the back, uterine fibroids, asthma (claimed as breathing problems), Graves' disease (thyroid disability), hypertension, and tachycardia. The Board found that there is no evidence of these conditions being related to service or toxic exposures.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for all the listed conditions, and the Board dismissed these appeals as a result.