Neck / cervical spine decisions — 2019

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a cervical spine disorder and bilateral hip disorder due to inadequate VA examinations. The Veteran must be provided with new VA examinations to determine if his current conditions are related to service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for low back, neck, bilateral shoulder, bilateral knee, and bilateral hip disabilities due to outstanding development needs.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for service connection for a back disability, including status post lumbar and cervical spinal fusions, due to inadequate VA examination opinions. The case will be readjudicated after obtaining an addendum opinion from the June 2019 VA examiner or another appropriate clinician.

The Board has determined that the July 2019 VA opinion is not adequate to address whether the Veteran's service-connected psychiatric disorder or cervical spine condition caused him to become obese, and whether obesity was a substantial factor in causing his sleep apnea. The case is therefore being remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened, and the Board has determined that new VA examinations are needed to determine the nature and etiology of his claimed disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left knee impairment preexisted service and was aggravated by active duty. The cervical spine disorder and lumbar spine disorder are remanded for further development as veteran status is not established for the periods of ACDUTRA mentioned.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for back and neck disabilities due to Gulf War Illness, as they are related to medically unexplained chronic multisymptom illnesses.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine, finding that it is related to his in-service left shoulder injury. The decision resolves all doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral knee disability, cervical spine disability, and thoracolumbar spine disability have been granted. The cervical spine disability has a rating of 20 percent, while the thoracolumbar spine disability is rated at 40 percent.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for lumbar and cervical spine disorders due to conflicting opinions in the VA examination report. The case will be returned to the AOJ with additional records and an addendum opinion from a qualified medical professional.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back, neck, left knee, right knee, and right ankle disabilities may be related to service. However, due to a lack of VA examinations addressing these claims, the case is being remanded for further evaluation.

The Board has decided to remand the cases for additional examinations and further development due to new complaints of pain and worsening symptoms.

The Veteran's service-connected cervical spine disability is currently rated at 10 percent, and the Board finds that additional evidence is needed to determine if a higher rating is warranted.

The Board has remanded the case due to non-compliance with a previous remand order regarding service treatment records from February 2010 to September 2010. The AOJ needs to request these records directly from the Oregon Army National Guard and provide an addendum medical opinion if additional relevant records are obtained.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for cervical spine disability, right upper extremity radiculopathy (formerly carpal tunnel syndrome), and left upper extremity radiculopathy have been denied. The VA has determined that the current evaluations adequately reflect the severity of these conditions.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's cervical spine disorder. The VA examiner’s opinion was based on incomplete evidence and failed to reconcile the x-ray evidence of severe arthritis in 2005.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development due to failure to comply with previous remand directives and to obtain opinions on the etiology of the Veteran's neck disability, left knee disability, and TDIU claim.

The Veteran's cervical spine disability is granted as service-connected. The issues of rating in excess for right knee and lumbar spine disabilities are remanded.

The Veteran's neck and right knee disabilities have been granted service connection on a presumptive basis. The remaining claims, including those for respiratory disability, bilateral hand numbness, acid reflux disease, and right ankle strain, are remanded.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a cervical spine disorder was denied in May 2017 and dismissed due to the Appeals Modernization Act (AMA). The Board does not have jurisdiction over this matter.