Neck / cervical spine decisions — 2019

The Veteran's cervical spine DDD is granted as service connected, with the Board finding that it was caused by an injury during his active duty service.

The Board has remanded the claims for a bilateral shoulder disability, back disability, and neck disability due to inadequate examination reports. The Veteran's lay history must be considered in determining whether service connection is warranted.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate opinion regarding whether the Veteran's cervical spine disorder is related to his service-connected left clavicle fracture. The VA needs to obtain additional medical opinions and possibly new treatment records.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been denied as new and material evidence has not been received to reopen the previously denied claims.

The Veteran's service connection claims for an acquired psychiatric disability, neck disability, and radiculopathy of the bilateral upper and lower extremities are being remanded due to insufficient evidence regarding their etiology.,Specifically, the Board is seeking additional medical opinions on whether these conditions are related to the Veteran's military service.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinion and referred an increased rating claim for traumatic arthritis of the wrist and fourth finger of the left hand.

The Board has remanded the claims for a neck disability and an acquired psychiatric disorder due to the need for additional medical examinations.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for cervical spine disability, hypertension, hypothyroidism, and diabetes mellitus due to inadequate VA examinations. The Veteran is required to undergo further examination to determine if his current disabilities are related to active service.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's lumbar spine disorder, cervical spine disorder, bilateral knee disorder, lower extremity numbness (lumbar radiculopathy), and depression.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection have been denied. The right wrist disability, bilateral hearing loss (left ear only), tinnitus, cervical spine disorder, COPD, IBS, OSA, left hip disorder, headaches, and seizures were not shown in service or are not causally related to service.

The Veteran's degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine is considered to have started during his combat service in Vietnam and has been recurring since then. The Board found that the Veteran's current condition can be linked to his military service, thus granting service connection.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for cervical strain, lumbar strain, left knee condition, and right knee condition due to additional development being required.

The Board has remanded the cases due to a lack of compliance with previous remand instructions, specifically obtaining a VA examination. The Veteran's cervical and lumbar spine disorders are being reviewed for secondary service connection.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including sleep apnea and diabetes mellitus, are denied. The Board has found the Veteran's claims for lumbar DDD, cervical DDD, BUE peripheral neuropathy, BLE peripheral neuropathy, a skin condition, and an acquired psychiatric disorder to be inextricably intertwined with his exposure to toxic exposures at Fort McClellan and thus remanded.

The Board has remanded the case due to new evidence of worsening cervical spine impairment and requests for extraschedular disability ratings. The Veteran is required to provide additional medical records, including chiropractic treatment and private medical records.

The Board denied service connection for a neck disability, including on a secondary basis. The Veteran failed to report to the VA examinations and there is no evidence of a current neck disability.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection on four different conditions have been dismissed due to his request to withdraw the appeal.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and effective dates are remanded due to the need for new VA examinations to assess the current severity of her service-connected cervical spine disability and right upper extremity radiculopathy.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and opinions.,The Veteran is seeking higher ratings for his cervical spine and right upper extremity conditions, as well as service connection for various other disabilities.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings on several knee and spine disabilities, as well as his PTSD and depressive disorder have been dismissed. The Board has also remanded the issues of a higher rating for persistent depressive disorder prior to October 28, 2016, and in excess of 50 percent thereafter for persistent depressive disorder and PTSD; a higher rating for lumbar spine chronic muscular strain superimposed on degenerative instability; and entitlement to TDIU.