Neck / cervical spine decisions — 2020

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to incomplete or conflicting medical opinions and additional information is needed.

The Veteran's hypertension and cervical spine disorder are denied as not related to service.,Service connection for left ear hearing loss, left shoulder disability, bilateral knee impairment, bilateral hip condition, and sleep apnea is granted with reopening of the claims.

The Board has granted service connection for cervical spine disability, bilateral knee disability, and DJD of the low back. The disabilities are all found to be related to a July 2004 injury during INACDUTRA.

The Veteran's death from a motor vehicle accident was not caused or related to his service-connected conditions, including bipolar disorder and other medical issues.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a cervical spine disability and a right foot disability are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and development of her service records.

The Board has remanded the claims for cervical spine, lumbar spine (excluding spina bifida occulta), and left knee disabilities due to a lack of adequate medical opinions from an orthopedic surgeon.

The Board has decided that a cervical spine disability is related to the Veteran's in-service motor vehicle accident and remands for an opinion on whether it is at least as likely as not related to service.

The Board has remanded the case to the Director, Compensation Service for consideration of whether the Veteran is entitled to TDIU on an extraschedular basis due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has granted a 30 percent rating for cervical spine degenerative disc disease. The case is being remanded to determine if the Veteran should receive an increased rating in excess of 30 percent.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a cervical spine disability and TDIU due to service-connected disabilities. The case is being returned for further development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling the Veteran for a VA examination.

The Board has determined that additional evidence is needed to determine the etiology of the Veteran's cervical spine and thoracolumbar spine disorders, specifically whether they are related to his service-connected left leg distal fibula fracture.

The Veteran's cervical spine disability is rated at 20 percent, and his psychiatric disorder prior to January 25, 2018, does not warrant a higher rating.

The Veteran's cervical spine disability and PTSD with other specified depressive disorder and alcohol use disorder are granted. The Veteran is also entitled to a rating of 70 percent for his service-connected psychiatric condition, effective from the date of claim.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for various foot, hand, knee, shoulder, back, and eye disorders due to incomplete records from the Veteran's reserve service.

The Veteran's claims for athlete’s foot, foot pain, cervical and thoracic spine disability, joint pain, muscle pain, right shoulder disability, left shoulder disability, low back disability, right knee disability, left knee disability, right leg disability, and left leg disability are being remanded due to the need for additional development.,The Veteran has not been formally diagnosed with any medical conditions relating to these claims. However, he has reported pain in various areas of his body during service and since then.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for myofascial pain syndrome, left lower extremity radiculopathy (femoral and sciatic nerve), cervical spine disorder, and posttraumatic stress disorder. As a result, the Board dismissed these claims.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based upon unemployability due to service-connected disabilities, finding that his service-connected conditions did not render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.

The Board has granted service connection for sleep apnea, headaches, cervical spine disability, right ankle disability, and left knee disability. The Veteran's left wrist disability is denied as it is not related to service.

The Veteran's cervical spine arthritis is found to be related to his in-service motor vehicle accident, and service connection for this condition is granted.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the Veteran's cervical spine condition and its relationship to service. The claim will be returned for further review.