Neck / cervical spine decisions — 2026

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, cervical spine degenerative arthritis, thoracic strain, right upper extremity radiculopathy, right knee degenerative arthritis and chondromalacia patella, left knee degenerative arthritis and chondromalacia patella, left ankle ganglion cyst and ruptured saphenous vein, and left great toe matrixectomy with a left medial foot scar. The Board found that the Veteran's conditions are related to his military service.

The Board has granted effective dates of September 16, 2023 for the appellant's service-connected migraines (50%), lumbosacral spine disability (40%), and cervical spine disability (30%). These ratings were increased from their initial effective dates based on the appellant's continuous pursuit of review options.

The Veteran's neck condition was incurred during active service and the Board has granted service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's cervical spine disability, characterized as a cervical spine strain with spondylolisthesis, is rated at 20 percent and the appeal for an increased rating in excess of 20 percent has been denied.

The Board has granted earlier effective dates of June 6, 2011 for the Veteran's service connection claims for right and left upper extremity cervical radiculopathy.

The Veteran's appeal for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for allergic rhinitis is denied.,Service connection has been granted for chronic right ankle sprain, chronic coughing, and cervical spine condition. Service connection for chronic shortness of breath, left knee condition, and right knee condition are also granted.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for lumbosacral strain and degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine, finding that new evidence supports a link to his military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus, sleep disturbances, cervical spine disability, foot disability, residuals of gall bladder removal, and left wrist disability have all been denied.,The Board found that there is no current diagnosis of any of the claimed conditions.

The Veteran's cervical spine disorder is found to be related to his active duty service, and service connection for this condition is granted.

The Veteran's cervical spine disability including strain/cervicalgia and degenerative arthritis is considered to have started during his military service or due to a pre-existing condition that was aggravated by his service-connected lumbar spine disability. The Board granted the claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the VA examiner's opinion regarding service connection for degenerative joint disease of the cervical spine is incomplete and requires further clarification. The case is being remanded to obtain an addendum opinion addressing whether the Veteran's current condition is related to his military service, including two claimed inservice collision injuries.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to missing records and a pre-decisional duty to assist error. The claims will be readjudicated after obtaining any necessary records.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral knee, left shoulder, and neck disabilities due to a deficiency in the record prior to the decision on appeal.

The Veteran's GERD, neck disability, right and left upper extremity peripheral neuropathy have been granted service connection with effective dates of September 27, 2023.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for neck disability and migraine headaches due to pre-decisional duty to assist errors, including failing to obtain adequate medical opinions on a secondary theory of entitlement.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevented him from engaging in gainful employment as of January 1, 2019. The Board granted a TDIU effective from that date.

The Board has granted effective dates of October 21, 2021 for service connection of cervical spine degenerative disc disease with cervical lordosis and bilateral upper extremity radiculopathy.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a duty-to-assist error regarding functional loss and medication effects on range of motion. The Veteran's disability rating for cervical spine IVDS with spinal cord myelopathy, status post anterior fusion will be reconsidered.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to a lack of proper medical opinions and procedural errors in obtaining those opinions.

The Board has granted service connection for left hip, right hip, left knee, and right knee disabilities, as well as cervical spine disability. The conditions are deemed to have started during active-duty military service.