Neck / cervical spine decisions — 2020

The Board granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and arthritis of the cervical spine, with a 70% evaluation for the former and a 10% evaluation for the latter. The effective dates are set as May 23, 2012.

The Board has remanded the issue of whether the Veteran's current neck disability is related to his service, including a potential fall or heavy lifting during service.

The Board has granted service connection for right knee disability. Service connection is remanded for left shoulder, cervical spine, and lumbar spine disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions are all granted with the exception of a separate 10% rating for hypertension which is denied as it has already been assigned.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened and are now pending before the Board.

The Board has determined that there is at least an approximate balance of positive and negative evidence regarding whether the Veteran's current degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine was incurred while boxing in the U.S. Air Force, leading to a grant of service connection.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient data regarding whether the Veteran's current left hand and wrist neurological condition is related to his active duty training period in March 2011. The issue now requires a determination of whether the Veteran incurred or aggravated a left wrist and hand condition during that period, and if so, whether it is linked to his current disability.

The Veteran's initial rating of 20 percent for cervical spine strain with DDD prior to April 6, 2017 is granted. However, the Veteran's request for a higher rating in excess of 20 percent from that date forward and his claims for service connection for left and right knee conditions are remanded due to additional development being required.

The Veteran's degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine is granted as service-connected.,Service connection for a respiratory disability due to asbestos exposure is denied.

The Veteran's service-connected Hashimoto's thyroiditis is granted a 60 percent rating, effective September 7, 2011. She also receives TDIU benefits.

The Board has granted service connection for cervical spine disability and denied an increased rating for left shoulder disability. The Veteran's current cervical spine disability is found to be related to his military service, while the left shoulder disability does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examination in determining whether the Veteran's cervical spine disability is related to service, specifically his active duty service and any aggravation by a service-connected lumbar spine disability.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been granted, with the exception of his claim for a skin disability due to herbicide exposure. The Board has also remanded these issues.

The Board has remanded the cases due to issues related to TDIU and compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for a cervical condition, as well as sending a complete copy of the Veteran's claims file to his representative.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his cervical spine disability is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining records from Social Security Administration and VA.

The Board has remanded the claims for increased evaluations of service-connected lumbar and cervical spine injuries, as well as the issues regarding secondary service connection for left hip and leg disorders.,No specific rating assigned in this decision.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for cervical and lumbar spine disabilities, finding that there is no direct evidence linking these conditions to his active duty service. The Board noted a significant gap in treatment records between the motor vehicle accident in 1970 and the onset of symptoms in 2006.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, a cervical spine disability, and a lumbar spine disability. The Veteran's current conditions are not considered to be related to his military service.

The Board has vacated the May 28, 2020 decision due to denial of due process. The case is remanded for further action on service connection claims including PTSD and anxiety disorders.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of cervical biopsies and alopecia, finding that there is no competent evidence to support current disabilities related to these conditions.