Neck / cervical spine decisions — 2021

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities, finding that her combined rating of 70% or more makes it at least as likely as not that she is unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for migraines is granted, and the case is remanded for further development regarding increased ratings for right knee disability, left knee disability, and cervical spine disability.

The Board denied service connection for a right upper extremity neurological disability, finding no evidence of onset during service or within one year of presumed herbicide exposure. The disabilities were not related to service.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for various disabilities, including ACM and its secondary effects on other conditions. The Veteran's attorney requested a hearing but did not appear. Further medical opinions are needed to determine if these conditions were incurred or aggravated by his military service.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including scheduling a VA examination to evaluate the Veteran's lumbosacral strain with degenerative changes. Service connection is granted for neck and left shoulder disabilities.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for right shoulder, left elbow, and right hand disabilities due to insufficient development in prior examinations.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for migraine headaches, a left foot disability, a right knee disability, hypogammaglobinemia (CVID), and a cervical spine disability due to lack of evidence showing these conditions were incurred or aggravated during her military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to a failure to provide an adequate examination and consideration of her contentions regarding secondary service connection.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to duty-to-assist errors, including the need for additional treatment records and VA opinions regarding the nature and etiology of his respiratory condition and cervical adenopathy.

The Veteran's claim for PTSD due to military sexual trauma is granted. The issue of service connection for a neck condition is remanded due to the need for additional development and an opinion.

The Board has remanded the SMC claim due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's employment status and additional VA and private treatment records are needed. The appeal is now in remand status.

The Board has denied service connection for chronic bronchitis and remanded the issues of service connection for cervicalgia and bilateral foot disability due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Veteran's cervical spine disability is granted a 30% rating effective from January 28, 2011. The issues of initial compensable evaluations for patellofemoral syndrome and chondromalacia of the left and right knees are remanded.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability resulted in a temporary total evaluation from August 11, 2016 to March 1, 2017.,Service connection for tinnitus was granted based on the Veteran's reported noise exposure during service.

The Board has withdrawn the claims of service connection for urticaria and angioedema. The issues of service connection for lumbar spine disorder, cervical spine disorder, psychiatric disorder (depressive disorder/anxiety/PTSD), TBI (head injury), right ankle disorder, erectile dysfunction (ED), chronic pain syndrome, hypertension, digestive disorder, and sleep disorder have been remanded due to the submission of new and material evidence.

The Board has granted service connection for cervical disc degeneration and left cervical radiculopathy, finding that these conditions are secondary to the Veteran's right shoulder gunshot wound.

The Board has dismissed all service connection claims for various disabilities, including elbow, cervical spine, thoracic spine, wrist, hip, knee, bronchitis, and lumbar spine disabilities.

The Board denied service connection for left shoulder disorder, right shoulder disorder, left elbow disorder, carpal tunnel syndrome of the right upper extremity, and carpal tunnel syndrome of the left upper extremity as there was no evidence of these conditions during or within one year after service.

The Board has remanded multiple service connection claims due to insufficient evidence or conflicting opinions, including arthritis, back disorder, cervical spine disorder, neurological disorder of the right upper extremity, hypertension, bilateral hearing loss, residuals of a heat stroke, and headaches.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a cervical spine disability, finding that there was no evidence of a disease or injury in service and insufficient medical opinion to establish a nexus between current disability and service.