Neck / cervical spine decisions — 2021

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development regarding his cervical spine disability, eye disability, and left knee arthroplasty.,Service connection for the Veteran's claimed eye disability and cervical spine disability (claimed as neck pain) is denied.

The Board has granted service connection for degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine. The issue of service connection for a gastroesophageal or gastrointestinal disability (claimed as 'gastrointestinal disability') is remanded due to duty-to-assist errors.

The Board dismissed the claim for service connection for residuals of a stroke and trauma of the cervical spine as it was not properly appealed under the Appeals Modernization Act (AMA) appeal process.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for low back disability is being remanded due to the need for an adequate opinion regarding the etiology of his current lumbar spondylosis.,Service connection has been granted for cervical spine disability.

The Board has remanded the case due to a pre-decisional error in not developing the issue of entitlement to a Total Disability Rating Based on Individual Unemployability (TDIU). The Veteran's employment history is unclear, and the TDIU application and employment information were submitted after May 2019.

The Veteran's nonservice-connected pension claim is denied because he did not serve in a period of war and thus does not meet the eligibility requirements for pension benefits.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for a back disorder and cervical spine disorder due to secondary service connection with his bilateral knee disability. The Veteran's left shoulder disorder is also inextricably intertwined with these issues.

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

The Veteran's PTSD resulted in occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas, warranting a rating of 70 percent from November 22, 2013. The appeal is remanded for further evaluation on the issues of increased ratings for various conditions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for cause of death, finding that his service-connected fractured cervical spine did not contribute substantially or materially to his cause of death.

The Board has determined that a VA examination is needed to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's claimed disabilities, including whether they are related to her military service.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection of cervical and lumbar spine disabilities due to conflicting opinions from previous examiners. The Veteran's back and neck conditions are being reviewed again with a focus on whether they are related to active service.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claims for service connection for a cervical spine disability and a low back disability. The cases are being remanded for further development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling examinations.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and readjudication, including consideration of all relevant evidence. The Veteran's cervical spine disability is currently rated at 20 percent, but not higher.

The appellant withdrew their appeals for the cervical spine disability, right upper extremity radiculopathy, left upper extremity radiculopathy, and glaucoma claims.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for various knee, shoulder, and cervical spine disabilities due to inadequate VA opinions. The Veteran's assertions regarding her in-service experiences need to be considered.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD and lumbar spine disorder, render her unable to maintain substantially gainful employment consistent with her education and occupational background.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's cervical spine disability is related to an injury sustained during a VA examination in December 2018, and thus remands the case for further action.

The Veteran's cervical spine disorder, characterized as cervical spondylosis, was not shown in service or for many decades thereafter and is otherwise not related to his active-duty service.

The Board denied service connection for a cervical spine condition, finding that the evidence did not establish it was incurred or aggravated by service. The claimant's current diagnosis of cervical strain and degenerative arthritis is attributed to an in-service injury but not related to her service-connected right shoulder disability.,Service connection for OSA was also denied as there is no evidence linking it to service, with the examiner noting that chronic tonsillitis during service does not increase risk for developing sleep apnea.