Neck / cervical spine decisions — 2020

The Board has determined that the Veteran's neck disability is not related to service and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has remanded the claims for increased ratings for back and neck disabilities, as well as for peripheral neuropathy of the left upper extremity and left lower extremity. The Veteran is also being asked to provide any additional pertinent evidence.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for a right eye disorder and cervical spine disability due to their secondary nature to other service-connected conditions. The cases will be returned for further development.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to determine the severity of his service-connected cervical spine and bilateral knee disabilities.

The Veteran's service connection claims for headaches and various gynecological conditions, including menstrual problems, have been denied. The Board found no evidence of a chronic disability during service or a nexus to service.,The Veteran reported experiencing headaches during active duty but the only documented treatment was for an upper respiratory infection in 1983. Post-service records show her headaches began after a car accident in 1992, and there is no credible medical evidence linking these headaches to service.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to lack of in-service noise exposure. Service connection was also denied for lumbar and cervical spine disabilities as there is no probative evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings due to inadequate development of evidence, particularly regarding his knee and cervical spine conditions. The Veteran is presumed to be seeking the maximum possible evaluation.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a left wrist condition and left upper extremity cervical radiculopathy, finding that there is no current diagnosis of these conditions separate from his already service-connected left cubital tunnel syndrome.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for cervical brachial syndrome, finding that it is not etiologically related to service or a service-connected disability.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient opinions regarding whether the Veteran's cervical spine disorder is aggravated by her service-connected left knee disability.

The Board denied a rating in excess of 20 percent for the Veteran's right shoulder rotator cuff tendinopathy with arthritis and impingement syndrome, as well as service connection for his cervical spine disability. The evidence did not support an increased rating or service connection.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection of cervical and lumbar spine disabilities, as secondary to a service-connected left knee disability. The Veteran needs to provide VA with inpatient clinical records from 1964 and 1965 at the Oakland Naval Hospital regarding his claimed motor vehicle accident. A new VA examination is required to address whether these spinal disabilities are related to or aggravated by his service-connected left knee disability.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the award of service connection for radiculopathy of the bilateral upper extremities was denied. The evidence did not show that cervical radiculopathy existed prior to November 23, 2009.,The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for his TDIU was also denied. His TDIU award was granted on November 23, 2009, and the current effective date remains January 18, 2005.

The Veteran's cervical spine condition is remanded due to the inadequacy of the September 2017 VA examination.,The Veteran's left knee condition is remanded due to the inadequacy of the September 2017 VA examination.,The Veteran's right thumb and left thumb conditions are remanded for clarification of diagnosis and determination of service connection.,The Veteran's right shoulder condition is remanded for an addendum opinion on its relationship to service.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development due to inadequate VA examinations and failure to address certain issues.

The Veteran's TDIU claim was granted as of August 30, 2010, based on his service-connected disabilities making it impossible for him to secure and follow substantially gainful employment.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for a left leg disability, an acquired psychiatric disorder, and a cervical spine disability due to procedural issues. The TDIU claim is also remanded.

The Board has remanded the case due to unresolved issues regarding service connection for various conditions, including hypertension and sensory ataxia. The Veteran's claims for increased ratings on DDD of the cervical spine, LUE cervical radiculopathy, RUE cervical radiculopathy, and osteoporosis are also pending.

The Board has denied service connection for a neck disability, an acquired psychiatric disorder (including major depressive disorder and PTSD), and a headache disorder. The Veteran's claims for left ear hearing loss, bilateral foot disability, and left ankle disability are remanded.,Service connection is not granted for the Veteran’s claimed conditions due to lack of evidence linking them to service.

The Board has ordered a new medical opinion to determine the etiology of the Veteran's cervical spine disability, including whether it is related to service or secondary to his service-connected neck laceration.