Neck / cervical spine decisions — 2026

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for a cervical spine condition, including arthritis. The issue of entitlement to a higher disability rating for headaches was dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his appeal before the hearing.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for neck and back disabilities due to insufficient evidence regarding their etiology. The Veteran testified of continuity of symptoms since service, and possible aggravation by a service-connected condition.

The Veteran's appeal includes requests for increased ratings, TDIU on an extraschedular basis, and a grant of eligibility to Dependents Educational Assistance (DEA) under Chapter 35. The Board grants these claims with the effective dates specified.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for cervical strain, diabetes, and neurosis due to a regulatory duty to assist error in adjudicating the character of discharge issue.

The Veteran's claim for SMC based on the need for the regular aid and attendance of another person or housebound status is denied as he does not require such assistance.

The Veteran's cervical spine disability is rated at 30 percent, and the Board finds that this rating is not warranted for any period on appeal.

The Veteran's degenerative joint disease of the cervical spine is rated at 10 percent from September 7, 2018 to August 2, 2023. The rating is denied as it does not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation.,Allergic rhinitis prior to August 3, 2023, did not manifest as polyps or greater than 50 percent obstruction of the nasal passage on both sides, or complete obstruction on one side.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for his cervical spine disability and left upper extremity radiculopathy ratings, finding that no pending claim prior to March 10, 2020, supported these requests.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral pes planus, cervical strain, and right knee tendinitis have been granted with effective dates of November 9, 2021. The Board has also remanded the cases to assign initial disability evaluations from that date.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's claims of service connection for back pain, right knee injury, bilateral cervical radiculopathy, left knee disorder, left wrist disorder, and right wrist disorder. The remaining issues are remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine, finding that it is related to a neck injury during active service.

The Board denied the Veteran's eligibility for enrollment in VA's Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers (PCAFC) due to her not requiring personal care services for a minimum of six continuous months based on an inability to perform one or more activities of daily living, a need for supervision or protection, or a need for regular or extensive instruction without which the ability to function in daily life would be seriously impaired.

The Veteran's cervical spine degenerative disc disease is due to his service-connected TBI and bilateral photophobia with optic atrophy, which the Board finds sufficient for secondary service connection.

The Board has denied service connection for various conditions including neck disability, depressive disorder, dizziness and giddiness, erectile dysfunction, esophageal reflux, monoclonal gammopathy, left upper extremity ulnar neuropathy, and right upper extremity ulnar neuropathy. The evidence does not support a link between these conditions and the Veteran's service.

The Veteran's initial rating for obstructive sleep apnea is denied as it does not meet the criteria for a higher than 50 percent rating.,The Veteran's initial rating for chronic neck pain (neck disability) is denied as it does not meet the criteria for a higher than 20 percent rating.,The Veteran's increased rating for low back pain (back disability) is denied as it does not meet the criteria for a higher than 10 percent rating.,The Veteran's increased rating for left shoulder impingement (left shoulder disorder) is denied as it does not meet the criteria for a higher than 20 percent rating.,The Veteran's increased rating for right shoulder impingement (right shoulder disorder) is denied as it does not meet the criteria for a higher than 20 percent rating.,The Veteran's initial rating for deviated nasal septum is granted with a 10 percent rating.

The Board denied service connection for a neck disability and Parkinson's disease, finding that there was no current disability during the appeal period.,The Veteran claimed exposure under the PACT Act as a basis for his claims, but the evidence did not support these claims.

The Board has granted service connection for Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected cervical stenosis.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for cervical spine, left shoulder, and right shoulder disabilities due to a lack of evidence showing in-service injury or disease that led to current disability.

The Board has remanded the claims for cervical radiculopathy due to a lack of VA examination. The right eye and groin rash claims are denied as there is no current diagnosis.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a recurrent cervical spine disability other than the service-connected nonmalignant schwannoma residuals with cervical spine laminectomy residuals is denied. The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to December 9, 2022, for the award of service connection for major depressive disorder with psychotic features and bruxism is remanded.