Neck / cervical spine decisions — 2021

The Board has granted service connection for low back and neck disabilities, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are related to his military service.

The Board has vacated the May 7, 2020 decision denying service connection for cervical spine, left hip, right hip, left thigh, and right thigh disorders. The claims are now remanded for further examination and consideration.

The Veteran's appeal to reopen a claim of service connection for CFS was denied. The TDIU rating prior to January 6, 2017 is also denied.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of PTSD is granted. The claims for service connection for a temporal lobe disability, left inguinal pain (hernia), chronic fatigue syndrome, low back disability, right knee disability, neck disability, and sleep apnea are all denied.

The Board has remanded the cases of cervical spine and bilateral knee disabilities for further development to address whether these conditions are related to service.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for right shoulder, cervical spine, left knee, and left hip disabilities due to inadequate statements of reasons and bases in a previous decision. The issues are being remanded for further development including VA examinations.

The Board denied service connection for a cervical spine disorder, finding that the evidence did not support a link between the condition and active service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for laparoscopic vaginal hysterectomy, finding that her condition is not related to in-service events or conditions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for left knee disability, cervical spine disability, thoracolumbar spine disability, and sciatica due to inadequate VA medical opinions in previous remands.

The Board has remanded the claims for cervical spine and low back disabilities, as well as TDIU. Additional evidence is needed to support these claims.

The Board denied service connection for a bilateral foot disorder, cervical spine disorder, and right hip disorder. The Veteran's preexisting pes planus was found to have existed prior to service, and the current diagnosed degenerative conditions were not shown to be related to service or aggravation of the preexisting condition.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not result in loss of use of one or both feet, so they are ineligible for financial assistance for automobile or other conveyance and adaptive equipment.

The Veteran withdrew her claims for service connection and evaluations related to various conditions, including constipation, left ankle fracture, fatigue and insomnia, cervical spine disability, ganglion cyst of the left knee, allergic rhinitis, lumbosacral strain, lower extremity radiculopathy, and left ankle surgery.

The Board has determined that remand is necessary to ensure the Veteran's claims for neck and left hip disabilities are properly adjudicated, as the VA examinations provided were inadequate.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been dismissed due to his death.

The Board has granted service connection for cervical spine disability and headache disorder, finding that these conditions are secondary to the Veteran's service-connected right elbow disability. Service connection for lumbar spine disability was denied as there is no evidence of a chronic condition in service or within one year thereafter.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's cervical spine disorder is not related to his military service and does not meet the criteria for service connection.

The Veteran's neck disability was denied as not incurred in or related to his active service, and the Board found that his service-connected PTSD did not cause or aggravate his neck disability.,The Veteran's irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) claim is remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims, including for a right hand disability, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, erectile dysfunction, cervical spine disability, and prostate disability. The case is being returned to the RO for additional development.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis of the bilateral hands, Raynaud’s syndrome, anemia, a cervical strain and erectile dysfunction have been granted.,Service connection has not been established for any of these conditions on a direct basis. The Board found no medical evidence or opinion linking these disabilities to service.