Neck / cervical spine decisions — 2020

The Board denied service connection for a cervical spine disability and granted a higher rating of 40 percent for the Veteran's low back disability, effective as of November 7, 2019. The claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea is remanded.,The VA examiner found that the Veteran’s OSA is less likely than not related to his service.

The Board denied service connection for a right shoulder disability and a neck disability, finding that the evidence did not support a nexus to active service or service-connected disabilities.

The Board has denied service connection for multiple conditions including a right shoulder disability, chest pains, bilateral foot fungus, a right knee disability, a cervical spine disability, and breathing difficulties. The evidence does not support the Veteran's claims that these disabilities are related to his military service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The rating for residuals of a left radius fracture was denied as the evidence did not support a higher rating.,The Veteran's claim for left wrist DJD was also denied, with no higher rating supported by the medical evidence.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for a cervical spine disability and PTSD due to errors in duty to assist. The Veteran's SSA records are needed, and the claim for cervical spine disability should be reconsidered under the new evidentiary standard.

The Veteran's cervical spine disability and bilateral upper extremity radiculopathy are granted service connection as they are at least as likely as not related to his active duty service.

The Board has granted an earlier effective date of December 11, 2014 for the award of a TDIU. The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevented him from securing or following gainful employment as of that date.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's degenerative joint and disc disease of the cervical spine, finding that it is at least as likely as not related to his active service.

The Veteran's cervical spine disability is currently rated at 30 percent from March 19, 2019. The Board has found that the evidence does not support a higher rating for this period.,For the periods prior to March 19, 2019, the Veteran's cervical spine disability was previously rated at 10 percent and then recharacterized as 30 percent effective March 19, 2019. The Board has found that there is insufficient evidence to support a higher rating for these periods.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeals regarding service connection for various shoulder and hip disabilities, as well as his request for an earlier effective date for a 20% rating for lumbosacral strain. The Veteran is also granted entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Board has granted service connection for right extremity carpal tunnel syndrome, left extremity carpal tunnel syndrome, and cervical spondylosis, finding that the Veteran's conditions are related to his military service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection of a cervical strain (claimed as neck pain and degenerative disc disease) is denied. The Board found the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of a cervical spine disability, and his symptoms are related to his already service-connected fibromyalgia.

The Board has remanded three issues: sleep apnea, cervical and lumbar spinal damage, and seizures. The Veteran's service-connected TBI is also being examined to determine its current severity.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for right hip and cervical spine disabilities have been remanded due to the need for additional VA treatment records, private medical records, and SSA disability records.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development due to inadequate medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran's right hip and cervical spine disabilities are caused or aggravated by her service-connected back disability. Additional VA treatment records must be obtained, and new medical opinions must be provided.

The Veteran's DDD with IVDS of the cervical spine has been rated at 30 percent since January 21, 2020. The Board is remanding this issue for further development.,The Veteran's TDIU claim prior to January 21, 2020 remains pending and will be addressed in a separate decision.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for cervical spine, right shoulder, and left shoulder disabilities have been dismissed due to his withdrawal of the appeals prior to the promulgation of a decision.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including bilateral elbow disorder, cervical spine disorder, bilateral wrist disorder, gastrointestinal disorder (IBS), right shoulder disorder, and bilateral knee disorder. The issues are being returned to the RO for further development.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for RLS and TDIU prior to June 6, 2017 due to incomplete development. The Veteran is seeking service connection for his RLS as secondary to his cervical spine disability and sleep apnea.

The Veteran's claims for effective dates earlier than September 20, 2014 for service connection of degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine, carpal tunnel of the right wrist, and carpal tunnel of the left arm have been denied. The case is remanded due to issues with his initial ratings.