Neck / cervical spine decisions — 2021

The Veteran's TDIU claim is granted due to service-connected disabilities.,Service connection for disability of the thoracolumbar spine and sleep apnea are remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including coronary artery disease, left shoulder arthritis, diabetes mellitus, and multiple musculoskeletal conditions, have rendered him unable to maintain substantially gainful employment since February 22, 2016. The Board finds that the combined effect of these disabilities has precluded his ability to work.

Your appeal for a higher rating for intervertebral disc syndrome and degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine has been dismissed because you died during the appeal process.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for a compensable initial rating for bilateral hearing loss, service connection for cervical spine disability, and service connection for back disability. The claims are being returned to VA for further development.

The Board has remanded the claims for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for service-connected degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine and a compensable initial rating for service-connected residuals of traumatic brain injury due to the need for additional medical opinions.

The Board has determined that additional medical opinions are needed to address the Veteran's service connection claims for bilateral hip arthroplasty, degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine, and bilateral degenerative joint disease of the knees due to inadequate previous VA examination findings. The case is being remanded for this purpose.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a cervical spine disability, finding that there is no evidence of a current disability having its onset in service or being related to any incident of service. The Board also found that the Veteran did not have a current disability due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and effective dates have been dismissed.,Service connection has been granted for various conditions, including PTSD, cervical spine strain, hemorrhoids, and seasonal allergic reaction.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence in the record regarding the Veteran's neck condition and its relationship to her military service. The issues of right upper extremity cervical radiculopathy and left upper extremity cervical radiculopathy are also being remanded as they are inextricably intertwined with the neck condition claim.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for low back and neck disabilities due to a lack of VA examination. The examiner is requested to determine if these conditions are related to his military service, particularly as a pilot.

The Board has remanded several issues related to service connection and effective dates for various conditions, including left lower extremity radiculopathy, adjustment disorder with depression and anxiety, circinate balanitis, gonorrhea, herpes, conjunctivitis, and atrial fibrillation.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea and a neck disability due to potential issues with causation and aggravation of these conditions by his service-connected PTSD or heart disability. The case will be returned for further development.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development of his medical records and a VA examination.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for back and neck conditions due to new evidence. However, the claims are still pending as they have been remanded for additional development.

The Board has remanded the claims for increased ratings and reopening of service connection due to new evidence added to the record.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for a low back disability and an undiagnosed illness (including chronic fatigue syndrome or fibromyalgia) due to inadequate examination reports. The Veteran is required to undergo new examinations to determine the nature and cause of his disabilities.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for service connection of colitis, migraines, and a neck disability.

The Board has dismissed the appeal because the Veteran did not file a proper Notice of Disagreement (NOD) using the correct form, VA Form 21-0958, and thus failed to comply with the procedural requirements for initiating an appeal under the legacy appeals system.

The Veteran's current neck disorder, diagnosed as chronic cervical strain with degenerative changes, is related to his military service. Service connection for this condition is granted.,There is no evidence that the Veteran's TBI and headache disorder are causally or etiologically related to any disease, injury, or incident in service.

The Veteran's cervical spine disability, left and right upper extremity neurological disabilities are granted as service connected. The disabilities are related to injuries in service.