Neck / cervical spine decisions — 2026

The Board has granted service connection for a cervical spine condition on the basis of secondary to service-connected right knee and lower extremity radiculopathy. The Veteran's low back, right knee, hearing loss, and eczema conditions are also addressed with various ratings being granted or denied.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for thoracolumbar and cervical spine conditions, finding that these conditions are a result of his military service.

The Board has granted an earlier effective date of March 19, 2021 for the appellant's service connection claims related to cervical and femoral radiculopathy. The decision also grants eligibility for Dependents' Educational Assistance under 38 U.S.C. Chapter 35.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, neck disability, right knee disability, bilateral pes planus, and history of fracture of left fifth metatarsal. The decision also noted that the Veteran's hypertension claim was remanded.

The Board has decided that the Veteran and his significant other are not eligible for benefits under the PCAFC program due to a lack of personal care services needs. The appeal is being remanded to allow for further evaluation by an appropriate clinician.

Your appeals to the Board of Veterans' Appeals (Board) for service connection on several conditions have been dismissed due to your failure to provide the date of the VA decision you were attempting to appeal.

The Board has granted service connection for a cervical spine condition, including cervicalgia and osteoarthritis of the cervical spine. The Veteran's current cervical spine condition is considered to have begun during his active military service or is related to an in-service injury.,Service connection has also been granted for bilateral upper extremity radiculopathy (claimed as residuals, neck injury) secondary to the service-connected cervical spine condition.

The Board has granted service connection for cervical spine degenerative arthritis and intervertebral disc syndrome status post fusion. Service connection is denied for right hand arthritis.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for a 30 percent disability rating for his cervical spine disability is denied. The Board found that there was no evidence of worsening in the one year prior to his May 7, 2019, claim for an increased rating.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to inadequate medical opinions and a failure to address in-service left shoulder injury.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, except for eczema and skin rash, are associated with his subsequent period of active duty after he received separation pay. Therefore, the appeal is granted as recoupment of the Veteran's separation pay in the amount of $13,271.16 is improper.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's cervical spine condition is related to his active service and granted service connection for this disability.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a temporary total rating for degenerative disc disease, C4-C5, C5-C6, cervical spine due to insufficient evidence regarding the date of surgery and the length of convalescence.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for carpal tunnel syndrome, lumbar spine disorder, and right lower extremity radiculopathy due to inadequate medical opinions regarding their etiology.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral upper extremity condition, including cervical radiculopathy, finding that it is not related to his military service and is not secondary to any of his service-connected conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine, but denied service connection for diabetes mellitus. The Veteran's current diagnoses are supported by credible statements and medical evidence linking his disabilities to in-service events.

The Veteran's claims for cervical, thoracic, and lumbar spine conditions, as well as related radiculopathy, were denied due to insufficient evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Veteran's migraine headaches are granted a 50% disability rating, effective December 17, 2021. The Veteran's cervical strain is denied an increased rating beyond the current 10%. Other claims for service connection and earlier effective dates remain pending.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete development and need for additional examinations. The issues include prostate cancer, bladder bleeding with blood clots, heart disability, diabetes mellitus, neurological impairment of upper extremities, cervical spine disability, right knee disability, and left knee disability.

The Board has remanded the claim of service connection for a neck disability due to a duty-to-assist error in obtaining an adequate etiology opinion prior to the January 13, 2025 rating decision.