Neck / cervical spine decisions — 2026

The Board has remanded the claims for a cervical spine disorder and thoracolumbar spine disorder due to lack of evidence raising secondary service connection.,Service connection is denied for right knee, left knee, and thoracolumbar spine disorders as there is no current diagnosis related to these conditions during the appeal period.

The Board has remanded the cases of lumbosacral strain, cervical strain, and jaw injury for further evaluation due to an inadequate opinion in the August 2024 VA examination.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for cervical spine and left shoulder disorders due to insufficient evidence regarding their etiology. The Veteran's current conditions are not shown to be causally or etiologically related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for lumbar and cervical spine disabilities due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology. The VA must provide adequate opinions addressing whether these conditions are caused or aggravated by his service-connected bilateral knee, right hip, and/or right ankle disabilities.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for neck disability, left ankle disability, and OSA due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology. The VA will need to provide updated medical opinions addressing whether these conditions are related to service-connected disabilities or other factors.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for benign liver disorder, cervical disorder (claimed as cervical cancer), gallstones, kidney stones, thyroid disorder, and ovarian cysts secondary to a cervical disorder due to inadequate medical opinions. The Veteran contends her conditions are related to toxic exposures during service.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including IBS with hiatal hernia and GERD, left shoulder disability, right shoulder disability, OSA, bronchitis, cervical strain, lumbosacral strain, bilateral pes planus, left hip disability, right hip disability, left knee disability, and right knee disability. The Board also remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus type 2 and an ulcer disability.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, chronic sinusitis, allergic rhinitis, right ear hearing loss, cervical spine disability, left shoulder disability, and right shoulder disability have been dismissed as the RO has granted these issues in full.,Right ear hearing loss is not established as a current disability under VA criteria.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for cervical and lumbosacral strain disabilities due to insufficient opinions in the previous VA examination. The Veteran is required to undergo a new VA examination to determine if his current cervical and lumbar spine disorders are related to his military service.

The Veteran's initial and increased ratings for cervical spine disability, right shoulder disability, and TDIU claims are denied. The case is remanded for further development regarding the rating for painful scars associated with PFB.

The Veteran's appeal is dismissed because she already received the retroactive VA disability compensation benefits under the CRDP program that she sought for the period from October 2021 through February 2025.

The Veteran's neck disability and upper extremity radiculopathy were evaluated, but the VA determined that none of the conditions warranted a higher rating than what was currently assigned.

The Veteran's appeals for effective dates earlier than July 25, 2024, for various service-connected disabilities have been dismissed due to the Veteran's withdrawal of his appeals.

The Veteran withdrew all pending appeals, including those for increased ratings and service connection claims.

The Board has granted service connection for a right knee strain. The cases of cervical spine condition, left upper extremity nerve condition, left lower extremity condition (radiculopathy), right shoulder condition, and left shoulder condition are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional examinations and to obtain VA outpatient treatment records. The claims for increased ratings and earlier effective dates are also being remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for cervical strain and lumbosacral strain due to procedural errors in obtaining relevant service medical records and a fully adequate examination without considering the ameliorating effects of medication.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date of May 18, 2023 for special monthly compensation based on the need for aid and attendance is granted. The evidence shows that the Veteran required regular aid and attendance due to his Parkinson's disease and related conditions.

The Veteran's claim for an automobile or other conveyance and adaptive equipment allowance is remanded due to unclear functional loss in his lower extremities resulting from service-connected disabilities. The Board finds a pre-decisional duty to assist error occurred by failing to schedule the Veteran for a VA examination.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error, and will provide proper notice as required under 38 U.S.C. § 5104.