Neck / cervical spine decisions — 2020

The Veteran's cause of death was not due to or the result of service or a service-connected disability.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral pes planus, cervical spine degenerative disc disease, and right shoulder strain have been granted. The claim for PTSD remains denied.

The Board has granted service connection for left shoulder strain degenerative joint disease and cervical spine condition effective from August 15, 2018. Service connection for left carpal tunnel syndrome and right carpal tunnel syndrome was also granted but with an earlier effective date of August 15, 2018.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence regarding his claimed sinus disability, sleep disability, low back disability, neck disability, left shoulder disability, and right shoulder disability. The VA is required to provide a new examination or opinion if it finds that the current evidence of record is inadequate.

The Board has granted service connection for arachnoiditis affecting the Veteran's left leg, but remanded the issue of service connection for a cervical spine disability.

The Veteran's neck disability is denied as not related to service.,Service connection for radiculopathy of the right upper extremity, secondary to a neck disability, is also denied.,Service connection for radiculopathy of the right lower extremity, including as secondary to a service-connected lumbosacral strain, is denied.

The Veteran's claim for a temporary total rating based on the need for convalescence following surgery for a disability of the cervical spine is denied because he is not service-connected for this condition.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various orthopedic and psychiatric conditions due to incomplete records and a need to verify one of his claimed inservice stressors.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinions and a need for further development regarding the Veteran's cervical spine disorder.

The Board denied service connection for right ankle and neck disabilities in January 1981. The Veteran's claims were not reopened as new and material evidence was not received to support the claims of right ankle and neck disabilities. Service connection for hypertension was also denied due to lack of current disability related to service.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim of service connection for a back disability, including lumbar and cervical spine due to inadequate development. The case will be returned for further examination and opinion.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for a cervical spine disability, finding that his current condition is at least as likely as not related to his military service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a traumatic brain injury was denied as there is no competent evidence of current disability or causation.,Service connection for a cervical spine condition (neck pain) was also denied due to lack of current disability.,An initial compensable rating for mandible nonunion was denied as the Veteran did not meet the criteria for a 10% evaluation under Diagnostic Code 9903.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluation of TBI and service connection for cervical strain, PTSD, and arteriosclerotic heart disease have been withdrawn by his representative.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine and cervical spine due to potential aggravation by his bilateral hip and left knee disabilities. The case will be sent back for an addendum opinion from a VA examiner.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional examinations and opinions regarding his service-connected disabilities, as well as for potential new evidence related to hearing loss, sciatica, and respiratory disabilities.

The Veteran's cervical spine disability, right upper extremity radiculopathy, and lumbar spine disability are rated at 20 percent. The Veteran's left ankle disability is rated at the maximum schedular rating of 20 percent. The Veteran's right lower extremity radiculopathy is rated at 10 percent prior to January 12, 2020 and at 20 percent thereafter.

The Board has remanded the case due to deficiencies in the record, specifically regarding the September 2017 VA cervical spine examination that did not provide information on pain and range of motion loss. The Veteran needs a new or addendum opinion from a VA examiner.

The Board denied the claim for a total disability rating for compensation based on unemployability of the individual prior to July 15, 2008 due to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities not precluding him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for cervical spine strain and lumbosacral strain have been reopened, but the Board has denied both claims due to lack of evidence linking current conditions to service. The case is remanded for further examination regarding lumbosacral strain.