Neck / cervical spine decisions — 2020

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim for service connection of a neck disability due to inadequate VA medical opinions and the need for further examination.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed because her Notice of Disagreement (NOD) did not clearly identify the specific issues she wanted to appeal.

The Veteran's cervical spine disability and contusion of the sacral coccyx region have been remanded for further development. The headaches prior to July 8, 2020 are denied, while those in excess of 30 percent from that date are also remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence regarding the etiology of his lumbar spine, cervical spine, and left knee conditions. The issues are also inextricably intertwined with the claim for a TDIU.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a bilateral knee condition, cervical spine disability, thoracolumbar spine condition, and transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder, urothelial cancer, and skin cancer due to incomplete service records.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for a neck disability, finding that his current condition is related to his active duty service.

The Board has granted service connection for lumbar spine, cervical spine, left shoulder, left knee, right foot disabilities and residuals of traumatic brain injury (TBI) to include acquired psychiatric disorder to include anxiety disorder, major depressive disorder and PTSD. The Veteran's current conditions are believed to be related to in-service injuries during airborne training.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's cervical spine disorder and its relationship to service-connected right shoulder bursitis and strain.

All appeals for increased ratings and initial compensable ratings have been withdrawn by the Veteran.,The Veteran has also withdrawn all appeals regarding effective date determinations.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's degenerative joint disease status post cervical fusions is likely due to a motorcycle accident during active duty, and service connection for this condition is granted.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating on his left shoulder disability was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding of more than 20 percent impairment, as the Veteran’s arm motion was limited to around 80 degrees from side to shoulder level. For the right shoulder and neck disabilities, the case is remanded for further examination and opinion. Service connection for hand and arm disabilities remains pending.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's current cervical spine disability is related to his service, including a motor vehicle accident in 1987.

The Veteran's earlier effective date claims for initial grants of service connection for her cervical spine, lumbar spine, right arm paresthesias, right ankle, chronic pigmented papules skin, and right hip disabilities are dismissed.,Her right ankle disability was granted an increased rating but no higher than 10 percent effective March 3, 2017.

The Veteran's back and neck disabilities are not related to service or Agent Orange exposure. His hypertension is related to service. The right knee, abdominal pain (IBS), GERD, and dysphagia issues have been remanded for further review.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for a cervical spine disorder and a rating in excess of 30 percent for other specified sleep wake disorder due to additional development being required.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development and medical opinions to address the nature and etiology of the Veteran's cervical spine condition and headache condition, as well as their relationship to service.

The Board denied a rating in excess of 20 percent for the Veteran's cervical degenerative joint and disc disease, finding that the evidence did not show forward flexion of the cervical spine to 15 degrees or less or favorable ankylosis of the entire cervical spine.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 40 percent for his cervical spine disability is denied, and the issue of entitlement to TDIU prior to March 1, 2013 is remanded.

The Veteran's cervical spine disability is rated at 30 percent from July 17, 2009 to September 26, 2019.

The Board has granted service connection for cervical spine, right hip, left hip, right knee, and left knee disabilities. The diagnoses are related to in-service duties and/or the service-connected low back sprain.