Neck / cervical spine decisions — 2026

The Board has found that additional development is necessary due to duty-to-assist errors, and the Veteran's claims for service connection, increased rating, and TDIU are all remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for cervical strain and left ankle strain, finding that the Veteran's conditions are related to his military service.

The Veteran's degenerative arthritis and intervertebral disc syndrome of the cervical spine are granted as service connected due to continuity of symptoms since service.,The Veteran's skin cancer, including squamous cell carcinoma and basal cell carcinoma, is granted as service connected based on presumed exposure to burn pits during his service in the Persian Gulf.

The Board has remanded several issues for further evaluation, including service connection claims and evaluations for various knee disabilities. The Veteran's psychiatric disorder, thoracolumbar spine disorder, cervical spine disorder, right shoulder disorder, left shoulder disorder, right elbow disorder, and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) are among the issues being reviewed.

The Board has granted service connection for degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine with moderate sized central disc protrusion at C6-7 and thoracic outlet syndrome, both secondary to the Veteran's service-connected cervical strain with reversal of cervical lordosis.

The Board has granted service connection for neck and back disabilities, finding that the appellant's current conditions are likely caused by in-service parachute injuries.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, back disability, neck disability, bilateral foot disability, bilateral shin disability, bilateral shoulder disability, and bilateral wrist disability due to a failure to provide proper notice of the right to a hearing before the RO.

The Veteran's service-connected lumbar back strain, cervical spine disability, bilateral pes planus, left ankle and knee disabilities, tinnitus, and hearing loss are rated accordingly. The effective date for the grant of service connection is denied prior to December 29, 2015. A total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disability (TDIU) and special monthly compensation (SMC) claims have also been denied.

The Veteran has withdrawn all his appeals, including those for hypertension, headaches, heart disease with atrial fibrillation, cervical spondylosis, depression, sleep apnea, hyperlipidemia, rotator cuff tear, acromioclavicular arthritis of the right shoulder, dominant, and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

The appeal for service connection of cervical pain is dismissed. Service connection for bilateral shoulder tendonitis is granted.

The Board has granted an initial disability rating of 20 percent for cervical strain, effective from November 2, 2021. The Veteran's cervical strain is characterized by forward flexion of the cervical spine greater than 15 degrees but not greater than 40 degrees during flareups and with repeated use over time.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for service connection for Crohn's disease, fibromyalgia, neck pain, and back pain due to duty-to-assist errors in obtaining adequate opinions regarding the onset of these conditions.

The Board has remanded the cases due to a failure to provide proper notice regarding the Veteran's right to a hearing.

The Veteran's bilateral knee disability was denied as it did not have its onset in service, did not manifest within one year of discharge, and is not otherwise related to service.,The Veteran's cervical spine disability was remanded due to insufficient evidence regarding the relationship between his current condition and service.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral cervical radiculopathy, hiatal hernia, and allergic rhinitis. The Veteran's conditions are not found to be related to his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, finding that it is related to the Veteran's diagnosed obesity and his service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied eligibility for attorney fees as the June 2024 TDIU decision was not an initial decision on service connection claims, but rather a determination of unemployability based on previously granted conditions.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection of a neck disability was dismissed as untimely, and the Board found that it had no authority to consider the claim due to procedural errors.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for neck disability, bilateral flatfoot, acquired psychiatric disability (PTSD), obstructive sleep apnea, and shortness of breath due to insufficient evidence in the record.

The Veteran's cervical spine strain and left knee meniscal tear, status post arthroplastic meniscus debridement with chondroplasty, are both granted service connection.