Neck / cervical spine decisions — 2021

The Board has determined that the Veteran's cervical spine disability is at least as likely as not related to service, and therefore grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for lower back injury, cervical injury, bilateral foot condition, and inguinal hernia condition due to inadequate consideration of all pertinent evidence.

The Veteran's claim for an initial rating of 30 percent prior to April 8, 2003, and for the period of May 8, 2003, to May 24, 2004, for service-connected cervical spine disability is granted.,The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 30 percent as of May 25, 2004, for a cervical spine disability is denied.,The Veteran's claim for an effective date earlier than May 25, 2004, but no earlier than September 24, 2002, for an extraschedular TDIU is granted.,The Veteran's claim for an effective date earlier than May 25, 2004, but no earlier than September 24, 2002, for the award of Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) benefits is granted.

The Board denied higher ratings for the Veteran's cervical spine disability and associated radiculopathies, finding that the evidence did not support a rating higher than 20 percent for the cervical spine disability or any higher rating for LUE radiculopathy.

Service connection granted for a polysubstance abuse disorder secondary to PTSD and TBIs, effective from the date of decision.,Service connection granted for a cervical spine disability as secondary to PTSD with polysubstance abuse disorder, effective from the date of decision.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient compliance with previous remand directives. The cervical spine strain claim is denied as there is no evidence of a current disability or in-service incurrence.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a cervical spine disorder, finding that there is no medical evidence linking the current condition to service or service-connected lower back disability.

The Veteran's cervical spine disability was rated at 20 percent prior to September 12, 2021 and increased to 30 percent thereafter. The claim for TDIU has been granted.,The initial rating of 20 percent for the cervical spine disability is denied as it does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various joint disabilities have been remanded due to the need for additional development and medical opinions.,The Veteran has multiple unresolved claims related to his military service, including those involving his shoulders, back, hips, elbows, hands, wrists, and knees.

The Board denied service connection for right shoulder, left shoulder, and cervical spine disorders due to a lack of evidence showing these conditions were incurred or aggravated during active service.

The Veteran's OSA was granted as secondary to his service-connected disabilities, including weight gain from other service-connected conditions. His migraine headaches prior to November 18, 2016, were also granted a 50% rating based on very frequent completely prostrating and prolonged attacks.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have prevented him from securing and maintaining substantially gainful employment since October 7, 2014.,The Veteran is currently entitled to a TDIU rating on a schedular basis effective September 8, 2015. However, his case was remanded for additional development regarding service connection for sleep apnea.

The Board has granted service connection for a lumbar spine disability and remanded the other issues due to insufficient evidence. The Veteran's Meniere's syndrome with tinnitus is being evaluated without medication, and an addendum opinion on the severity of her cervical spine disability is needed.

The Board has remanded the claims for further development due to incomplete compliance with prior remand directives and need for new VA examinations.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension on a secondary basis. The issues of bilateral peripheral neuropathy and cervical spine disability are being remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Veteran's lumbar spine spondyloarthropathy is currently rated at 10 percent, and the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted due to lack of additional limitation in motion.,The Veteran's cervical spine spondyloarthropathy is currently rated at 10 percent, and the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted due to lack of additional limitation in motion.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to their death. The Board does not have jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of this appeal at this time.

The Veteran's cervical spine strain has not resulted in unfavorable ankylosis of the entire cervical spine, and therefore a rating higher than 30 percent is denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for cervical spine disability and bilateral upper extremity radiculopathy due to incomplete development in prior examinations.

The Veteran's cervical spine disability is rated at 20 percent prior to September 28, 2013, and increased to 20 percent thereafter. The appeal for a higher rating remains denied.