Neck / cervical spine decisions — 2020

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for cervical spine disorder, thoracolumbar spine disorder, left hip osteoarthritis with trochanteric pain syndrome (including bursitis), right knee osteoarthritis, left knee disorder including strain, meniscal tear, and osteoarthritis, and right and left lower extremity disorders manifested by leg pain due to incomplete medical opinions and the need for additional development.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional evidence and a VA examination regarding his cervical spine disability. The issues include determining if he should receive an increased rating for his low back condition and whether his cervical spine disability is service-connected as secondary to his low back disability.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions do not meet the criteria for special monthly compensation based on need for aid and attendance or housebound status.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for back, neck, left shoulder, and left hip disabilities due to a duty to assist error. The VA is required to obtain an opinion regarding the nature and etiology of these disabilities.

The Veteran's appeals for higher disability ratings for cervical and lumbar spine degenerative disc disease have been dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his appeal prior to a Board decision.

The Board denied service connection for lumbar spine, cervical spine, right hip, and left hip disabilities due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to the Veteran's military service.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for neck, back, and right shoulder disabilities due to insufficient development of records from the Veteran's time as a boilermaker in the Navy. A new VA examination is needed to determine if these conditions are related to his military service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for cervical and lumbar spine disorders, finding that there is no evidence to support a link between these conditions and his military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for cervical spine disability, bilateral lower extremity tingling and numbness (secondary to service-connected thoracic spine), left knee disability, and bilateral upper extremity tingling and numbness (secondary to a cervical spine) due to insufficient examination findings.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for lumbar spine, cervical spine, right knee, and left knee disabilities due to insufficient medical opinion addressing the Veteran's paratrooper duties and continuous symptoms since service.

The Board denied service connection for a cervical spine disability, muscle spasms, osteoarthritis, and neurologic symptoms in the upper extremities as they are not related to service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and increased rating of her lumbar spine disability, as well as her cervical spine and tension headaches. The remand requires a new VA examination to determine whether her neck disability is at least as likely as not due to an in-service disease, event, or injury; or proximately due to or aggravated by her service-connected lumbar spine disability. Additionally, the examiner should opine whether her tension headache disability is proximately due to or aggravated by her cervical spine disability and her lumbar spine disability.

The Board has reopened the claims for left foot, left knee, and hepatitis C disorders due to new evidence received. The remaining issues are remanded for further development including obtaining VA treatment records and providing examinations.

The Board denied service connection for early syringomyelia with cervical syrinx, finding that the evidence does not confirm a current diagnosis of this condition.

The Board has granted service connection for lumbar and cervical spine disabilities, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are at least as likely as not related to in-service injuries.

The Board has found that there was not substantial compliance with its remand instructions and thus the appeals are being returned to the AOJ for further development.

The Veteran's hypertension is granted service connection and rated at 10 percent. The cervical spine strain with DDD, left hip limitation of flexion, right hip limitation of flexion, right hip limitation of extension, left hip limitation of extension, impairment of the right thigh, and impairment of the left thigh are all denied ratings in excess of 10 percent.

The Board has denied service connection for carpal tunnel syndrome of the left and right wrists, finding that there is no evidence linking these conditions to active service.

The Board has granted service connection for DDD of the cervical spine. The claims for PTSD and COPD are remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for low back and cervical spine conditions, finding that there is no medical evidence linking these conditions to his military service.