Neck / cervical spine decisions — 2020

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for various arm, elbow, hand, and neck disabilities due to a lack of evidence regarding their etiology.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have precluded him from obtaining and maintaining substantial and gainful employment due to his head injury, headaches, skin condition, and adjustment disorder. The Board has granted a TDIU rating based on the severity of these conditions.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development to obtain medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran's current cervical spine disorder and left shoulder disorder are related to service or secondary to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board dismissed the appeals for service connection for tinnitus and a temporary total rating for convalescence, granted an effective date of November 29, 2010 for the characterization of bilateral flat feet with plantar fasciitis as 50 percent disabling, and granted a 20 percent rating for cervical spine disability from January 25, 2012.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for a cervical spine disability and a left upper extremity disability, as these issues are inextricably intertwined with the pending claim. The VA must obtain an addendum opinion regarding the etiology of any cervical spine disability and readjudicate both claims.

The Board has decided to remand the cases for further development and consideration, including a new opinion on service connection for neck disability secondary to back disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current cervical spine disability is not related to service, and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining an addendum opinion from a clinician regarding the etiology of the Veteran's cervical spine disability and left arm peripheral neuropathy. The examiner must opine whether these conditions are related to service or secondary to service-connected left shoulder disability.

The Veteran's claims for increased rating, service connection for left shoulder disability, neuropathy of the left upper extremity (ulnar), back disability, and neck disability are all remanded due to new evidence received since the last denial. The Veteran is also granted to reopen his claims for service connection for left shoulder disability, left ulnar nerve disability, and back disability.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and a compensable evaluation are remanded due to the need for additional examinations.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for left elbow and cervical spine disabilities due to insufficient rationale in the previous VA examination reports. The Veteran is required to provide a new medical opinion that addresses his lay statements regarding in-service injuries and symptoms.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for infertility, cervical spine disability, right shoulder disability, left wrist CTS, right hip disability, and left hip disability. However, further development is needed as there are outstanding VA treatment records and additional medical opinions are required to address service connection.

The Board has granted service connection for both the thoracolumbar spine disability and cervical spine disability, finding that these conditions began during active service or are related to in-service injuries.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for service connection of a cervical spine disability, which was related to the service-connected lumbar spine disability. The Board dismissed this issue as it is no longer in its jurisdiction.

The Board has determined that remand is necessary to obtain a medical opinion regarding the Veteran's cervical spine disability, specifically whether it was aggravated by service or related to his service-connected shoulder disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected back disability is granted a 40 percent rating for the period from December 13, 2012, to April 11, 2016.,For the period from April 11, 2016, onward, the Veteran's service-connected back disability does not warrant a higher than 40 percent rating.,The Veteran is granted a 30 percent rating for his cervical spine disability throughout the appeal period.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a cervical spine disorder, lumbar spine disorder, and tinnitus due to inadequate medical opinions in the November 2018 decision. New VA opinions are needed.

The Board has decided to remand the cases for further action due to incomplete records and need for a medical opinion regarding service connection.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development, including obtaining VA examinations to determine if the Veteran's cervical spine and bilateral shoulder disabilities are related to service or his service-connected TBI.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's cervical spine disability, including a lack of clear opinion on its etiology and treatment records from February 2017 onwards. The Veteran will need to provide additional private chiropractic treatment records.