Neck / cervical spine decisions — 2020

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to inadequate VA medical opinions and missing translations of documents. The issues include service connection for cervical spine degenerative disc disease, left lower extremity lumbar radiculopathy, bilateral upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, and bilateral upper extremity cervical radiculopathy.

The Veteran's low back condition is rated at 40 percent, but the Board finds that ankylosis does not apply due to maintained range of motion. The cervical spine disorder and bilateral hand neurological disorder are remanded for further examination.,Service connection for a disability manifested by muscle and joint pain other fibromyalgia as due to environmental hazard exposure during Gulf War service is also remanded.

The Board denied DIC benefits under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for the cause of the Veteran's death, finding that VA did not fail to diagnose and/or treat a preexisting disease or injury, and that the proximate cause of the Veteran’s death was not due to carelessness, negligence, lack of proper skill, error in judgment, or similar instance of fault on the part of VA.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for cervical and thoracolumbar spine disorders, osteoarthritis of the right hip and left knee, and a hernia disorder due to incomplete medical opinions regarding their etiology. Additionally, the Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for residuals of fracture of the second toe middle phalanx is also remanded.

The Board has ordered the VA to obtain additional medical records and conduct further examinations for the Veteran's cervical spine, lumbar spine, left knee, and right knee disabilities. The remand is due to incomplete documentation of requests for treatment records and insufficient opinions regarding service connection.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to September 7, 2012, for a 20% rating for degenerative joint disease of the cervical spine was denied. The Board found that there was no ascertainable increase in disability severity warranting the earlier effective date.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the Veteran's cervical spine disability. The Veteran is seeking service connection for this condition, which was previously denied in March 2015 and remanded multiple times.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for right shoulder recurrent dislocations and chronic cervical strain due to insufficient information regarding range of motion testing.

The Board has denied service connection for neck, left knee, right knee, left ankle, right ankle, and both feet disabilities as the evidence does not support a finding that these conditions began during active service or are otherwise related to an in-service injury or disease.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including her right shoulder condition and cervical spine strain with radiculopathy, have rendered her unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation since August 31, 2015.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for service connection, temporary total disability rating, and SMC under 38 U.S.C. § 1114(s) due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the etiology of the cervical spine disorder.

The Veteran's claim for special monthly compensation (SMC) under 38 U.S.C. § 1114(s) was denied because his service-connected disabilities did not meet the criteria for SMC based on a single disability rated as total and an additional disability ratable at 60 percent or more.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been granted. The cervical spine disability, headaches, and peripheral artery disease are all found to be related to service.,Service connection has also been established for the right knee and hip disabilities.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for DDD of the cervical spine, arthritis of the left knee, and arthritis of the right knee as secondary to his service-connected left tibia injury.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a psychiatric condition and cervical spine condition as secondary to a psychiatric condition due to lack of notification regarding an examination.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a cervical spine disorder, headache disability, right knee disorder, and right hip disorder. The case is remanded to obtain additional medical opinions regarding the etiology of these conditions.

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 additional medical records and providing an updated VA examination.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for arthritis of the spine and cervical spine degenerative arthritis, finding that there was no evidence of a nexus between these conditions and his military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a cervical spine disability, including cervical strain and degenerative arthritis, finding that there was no evidence of an in-service injury or disease related to these conditions. The Board also found insufficient evidence linking any current disabilities to service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left shoulder, cervical spine, bilateral foot, and headache disabilities. The claim for psychiatric disability is remanded.,Service connection was not granted for any of the conditions due to lack of evidence linking them to service.