Neck / cervical spine decisions — 2021

The Veteran's lumbar spine and cervical spine disabilities are being remanded for further development. Other service connection claims related to the left shoulder, eye disorders, and joint swelling are also being remanded.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical records and the need for an addendum opinion regarding the Veteran's neck disorder.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's neck, right shoulder, left shoulder, low back, right knee, and left knee disabilities. The claims were previously remanded due to incomplete medical opinions.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development due to inadequate examinations and for the Veteran to provide updated information regarding his work history.

The Board has determined that further development is necessary to address the Veteran's claims for service connection for various disabilities, including those related to exposure at Camp Lejeune. The claims are being remanded to obtain additional medical records and a new VA examination.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for her service-connected cervical spine fusion with cervical strain is being remanded due to the need for additional development of her medical records.

The Veteran's cystitis cystica was asymptomatic and did not manifest by voiding dysfunction prior to June 22, 2010. From June 22, 2010 to February 1, 2015, the Veteran required absorbent materials or intermittent/continuous catheterization for obstructed voiding. After February 1, 2015, cystitis cystica was asymptomatic and did not manifest by voiding dysfunction.,Between January 28, 2009 and June 22, 2010, the Veteran's cervical spine disability manifested with occasional spasm but no ankylosis. From June 22, 2010, there was no indication of forward flexion of the cervical spine less than 15 degrees or favorable ankylosis.

The Board denied service connection for cervical spine disorder, right hip disorder, left hip disorder, lumbar spine disorder, and bilateral hearing loss. Service connection was granted for psychiatric disorder (to include PTSD).,Service connection was not established for the Veteran's claimed conditions as they were not shown to be related to his active duty service.

The Board has denied service connection for left shoulder, right shoulder, and cervical spine disorders due to lack of current diagnosis. The case is remanded for further examination.

The Board has decided to remand the cases of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, bilateral tinnitus, thoracolumbar spine condition, and cervical spine condition due to outstanding VA treatment records and a need for an addendum opinion regarding the relationship between noise exposure in service and current hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection and rating issues due to conflicting evidence and need for additional examination. The Veteran is not entitled to a disability rating in excess of 10 percent for TBI prior to December 17, 2020, and entitlement to a disability rating in excess of 70 percent thereafter for conversion disorder with mixed symptoms with other specified trauma and stressor-related disorder and TBI. The Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea, cervical and lumbar spinal damage are also remanded.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and earlier effective dates for left and right upper extremity cervical radiculopathy as they were not properly before the Board in the Appeals Modernization Act (AMA) system.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error. The Veteran's cervical and lumbar spine disabilities, as well as bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy, are being reviewed again.

The Board denied service connection for lumbar spine, cervical spine, and numbness of the hands disabilities due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service or a service-connected disability.

The Board has remanded the case due to new evidence received, which relates to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate the claim for a cervical spine disability. The Veteran's current cervical spine disability is at least as likely as not related to his military service, including his 1991 clavicular fracture and neck pathology suffered therein.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a neck disability was reopened and granted. The pelvis disability, diagnosed as chronic sacroiliac sprain/hypermobility, is also granted.,The remaining issues of service connection for right hip and left hip disabilities are remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for cervical spine and right shoulder conditions due to inadequate nexus opinions provided by VA medical examiners. The examiner's opinions are based solely on medical literature without considering the Veteran's specific case details, such as his medical records and reported symptomatology.

The Board has referred the issues of service connection for various disabilities to the AOJ for adjudication. The AOJ must address these intertwined claims before determining whether the appellant can be considered a veteran.

The Veteran's cervical spine, right upper extremity cervical radiculopathy, left upper extremity cervical radiculopathy, and headaches have been granted service connection. However, the low back disability remains under review due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's cervical strain disability is being remanded for a new examination to determine the current severity of his condition and its impact on function.