Neck / cervical spine decisions — 2020

The Board has granted effective dates of March 1, 2012 for the service connection of various disabilities including obstructive sleep apnea, neck disability, back disability, and bilateral upper and lower extremity radiculopathy.

The Board denied service connection for a cervical spine disability, right shoulder disability, lumbosacral spine disability, bilateral hip disability, and residuals of a head injury. The Veteran's current disabilities are not related to his active service.,The Board found that the Veteran did not experience any current disability due to his claimed right shoulder disability, lumbosacral spine disability, bilateral hip disability, or residuals of a head injury which could be attributed to active service.

The Veteran's appeals include requests for increased evaluations and earlier effective dates for service connection. The Board has determined that the issues should be remanded due to new evidence submitted after a final decision.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for various issues related to his spine, wrist, and hip conditions due to new evidence submitted after a previous decision.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating for cervical strain was dismissed as the Veteran withdrew their appeal.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for various service-connected disabilities, including hearing loss, anxiety disorder, headaches, sleep apnea, shoulder strain, vertigo, back issues, sciatica, and nerve damage in the upper extremities, were denied. The Board found that there was no evidence of current disability for some conditions (e.g., left ear hearing loss) or insufficient symptoms to warrant higher ratings.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim of service connection for a cervical spine disability beyond that of cervical strain, including degenerative disc disease, cervical radiculopathy, and arthritis due to conflicting opinions on the etiology of his condition. The case is now pending with instructions to obtain an adequate opinion considering the Veteran's lay statements regarding symptoms prior to 1987.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for new examinations and additional development.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development, including obtaining additional medical opinions and verifying treatment records. The issues of compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151, eligibility for financial assistance in the purchase of one automobile or other conveyance and/or automobile adaptive equipment, and TDIU are also remanded due to their interrelation with the 38 U.S.C. § 1151 issue.

The Board has denied service connection for lumbar and cervical spine disorders, as well as an acquired psychiatric disorder. The claims are being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions and records.

Service connection for lung cancer is denied as it was caused by a non-service-connected condition.,Service connection for cervical spine strain and multilevel spondylosis, left heel strain are granted as they were caused or began in service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a neck disability, finding that it was not caused or aggravated by his service-connected left knee disability and instead likely due to the aging process.

The Veteran's cervical spine injury and related conditions have been granted service connection, with a rating of 30 percent effective December 22, 2017. The right knee disability, arthritis of the cervical spine, neuropathy of left upper extremity, lumbar spine disability, sciatica of bilateral lower extremities as secondary to a lumbar spine disability, and skin disability have not been granted service connection.

The Board denied the Veteran's petitions to reopen his previously denied claims for service connection for cervical and lumbar spine disabilities, finding that new and material evidence had not been received.

The Veteran's cervical spine DDD with a herniated disc is found to have originated during service and the Board grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional medical opinions and potentially a new VA examination regarding the Veteran's residuals of a shell fragment wound of the neck, including his cervical spine degenerative disc disease (DDD).

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for cervical and lumbar spine disorders due to her pes planus, as it is unclear whether hyper-pronation during her gait caused or aggravated these conditions.

The Board has denied service connection for low back, cervical spine, and right knee disabilities. The case is remanded to obtain additional medical records and consider the Veteran's claims again.

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

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for fibromyalgia, bilateral shoulder disability, right wrist disability, and knee disabilities due to inadequate examination reports. The claims are also being remanded for additional examinations of his lumbar spine and cervical spine disabilities.