Neck / cervical spine decisions — 2021

The Board has remanded the claims for further medical development due to inconsistencies in the VA examinations and failure to account for functional loss due to pain.

The Veteran's claim for SMC AA/HB is remanded due to insufficient medical evidence addressing her need for aid and attendance or housebound status based on service-connected disabilities alone.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea and degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine due to insufficient consideration of her reports of symptoms in service.

The Veteran's TDIU is denied as his date of entitlement to a schedular TDIU is March 31, 2018. The Board finds that the Veteran does not meet the economic component of a TDIU prior to March 30, 2018.

The Board has granted an effective date of March 28, 2009 for the grant of service connection for a cervical spine disability and radiculopathy of the right and left upper extremities. The earlier effective date was granted based on the Veteran's claim filed in March 2009.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for cervical spine (neck) disability, right leg disability (claimed as leg length inequality), and left knee disability. The Board found that there was no clear and unmistakable evidence showing a pre-existing condition in any of these disabilities, nor did it find aggravation during service or beyond its natural progression.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's neck, right shoulder, and left shoulder disabilities did not begin during service or are otherwise related to an in-service injury or disease.,Service connection for these conditions is denied.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for lumbar spine disability and cervical spine condition, finding that there is no competent evidence to support a relationship between these conditions and his military service.

The Board has remanded the claims for cervical spine DDD and lumbar spine DJD and DDD status post L5-S1 fusion due to insufficient consideration of the Veteran's lay statements regarding his in-service injuries and symptoms.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for cervical spine, sinus, and headache disabilities due to inconsistencies in his statements regarding when he first experienced symptoms.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings are remanded due to the need for additional examinations and compliance with VA examination requirements.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for polysubstance abuse, which was secondary to his service-connected PTSD, has been granted. The appeal is dismissed as there is no longer a controversy.

The Board has remanded the claims for new opinions due to inadequate previous examinations. The VA will need to provide a thorough examination and opinion regarding the etiology of the neck and back disabilities, including whether they are related to service or secondary to other conditions.

The Board denied service connection for a cervical spine disorder, right knee disorder, and right ankle disorder. The Board found that the Veteran's current conditions are not related to his military service.,The VA examiner noted that the Veteran’s neck pain began in 1992 after an accident during training exercises, but there were no complaints or diagnoses of a cervical spine condition until 2014.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate opinions regarding whether the Veteran's neck disability is aggravated by her service-connected PTSD. The examiner needs to provide a new opinion addressing this issue.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for cervical spine degenerative disc disease and migraine headaches due to inadequate examination reports and lack of proper development.

The Board has decided one issue on appeal and remanded the remaining issues for further development. Additional development is necessary, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for lumbar and cervical spine disabilities, as well as a sinus condition. The reasons include insufficient rationale in the previous opinions and need for updated treatment records.

The Veteran's service-connected compression fracture of the L-1 vertebral body and degenerative joint disease of the cervical spine have been rated at 20 percent since March 28, 2012. The appeal for increased ratings has been denied.

The Veteran's service connection claim for a thyroid disorder is granted, and he is assigned an initial schedular rating of 100 percent for PTSD. The claims for increased ratings for his lumbar spine disability, neck disability, forehead scar, left hand scar, and forehead scar are denied.