Neck / cervical spine decisions — 2020

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a neck disability and lung disability due to insufficient medical evidence of record regarding the nature and etiology of his disabilities. The Veteran is required to provide private treatment records from his primary care physician and chiropractor, and he must be scheduled for a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of his neck disability.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been granted, but the specific disabilities and issues are not fully specified in this decision. The Board has reopened his claims for thoracic spine disability, left knee disability, left elbow disability, left foot disability, bilateral hearing loss, and cervical spine disability.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not prevent him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation prior to December 1, 2014.

The Board denied service connection for a cervical spine disability, finding that the Veteran's current condition was not related to his military service or any service-connected conditions. The right knee issue is remanded and will be addressed in an addendum opinion.

The Veteran's gout has been rated at 60 percent since the grant of service connection, effective prior to October 1, 2019. From October 1, 2019 onwards, a higher rating is not warranted. The Veteran's TDIU claim was denied as he did not complete the necessary VA Form 21-8940 and there was insufficient evidence of unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for cervical strain and left ankle sprain as they are not adequately addressed in the previous examinations. The VA is instructed to obtain treatment records, schedule new examinations, and readjudicate the claims.

The Board denied a request for an earlier effective date for the right knee scar and granted separate ratings for left knee extension limitation, instability, flexion limitation, and service connection for endometriosis, cervical polyps, pelvic pain, respiratory disability, low back disability, right hip disability, left hip disability, and anemia.

The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of VA examination and incomplete medical records. The Veteran's service-connected disabilities need to be evaluated for eligibility in acquiring specially adapted housing or special home adaptation grant.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence regarding his National Guard service in 1987 and the potential aggravation of his current spine and knee conditions.

The Veteran's claim for a neck disability was reopened, and he is now entitled to an increased rating of 40% for his lumbar spine disability. Other claims are remanded.

The Board has determined that additional evidence is needed and the Veteran's claims are being remanded for further examination and review.

The Board has remanded the veteran's claims for service connection due to conflicting information regarding her period of active duty and reserve status. The veteran is required to provide additional evidence, including personnel records from Camp Lincoln, to verify her service during the specified time frame.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for fatigue, neck disability, dizziness/vertigo, headaches, PTSD, sleep apnea, and acid reflux. The appeals are not about service connection under the presumptive provisions for Gulf War illness.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for TDIU as there was no evidence showing that his service-connected disabilities rendered him unemployable, despite his assertions and reports of employment.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for vertigo was denied as there is no evidence of a current disability related to his in-service injury.,For the period prior to September 14, 2019, the Veteran's cervical spine disability did not meet the criteria for an evaluation higher than 10 percent.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the relationship between the Veteran's cervical spine disorder and his service-connected left knee disability. The claim for service connection of the cervical spine disorder is also being remanded.

The Board denied the appellant's claims for compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1815 and § 1805 as she does not meet the legal criteria to qualify for benefits due to her father's exposure to herbicide agents in Vietnam.

The Board denied service connection for back and neck disabilities, finding that the evidence did not support a link to service.

The Board has granted service connection for right lower extremity radiculopathy, but has remanded the issue of cervical spine disability due to insufficient evidence.