Neck / cervical spine decisions — 2021

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for left elbow epicondylitis and cervical spine disability due to insufficient medical opinions in previous examinations. The Veteran is required to provide a new VA examination that addresses his lay statements regarding motor vehicle accidents and service treatment records.

The Veteran's cervical spine disability is currently rated as 10 percent disabling from August 6, 2006, to June 9, 2013, and from August 1, 2013, to July 21, 2015. The thoracolumbar spine disability is currently rated as 20 percent disabling from August 6, 2006, to February 11, 2008, and from April 1, 2008, to August 25, 2015. These ratings are being remanded for further development.,The Veteran's TDIU claim is also being remanded as part of the spine issues on appeal.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for the residuals of corneal ulcer with infiltrate, left eye has been reopened. The appeal is remanded for further evaluation and rating of his other service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and readjudication. The Veteran's claims of service connection for various conditions are being reviewed again.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened and are granted. The Board found new and material evidence to support the reopening of these claims.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for headaches, finding that there is no evidence to support a causal relationship between his headaches and his military service or his service-connected cervical spine degenerative disc disease.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including sleep apnea, ADHD, and multiple musculoskeletal conditions, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. The Board has granted his claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Veteran's cervical spine disability, right upper extremity radiculopathy, left lower extremity radiculopathy, and right lower extremity radiculopathy are all rated at the lowest possible level (20%) due to lack of evidence showing more than mild impairment. The scars from her cervical fusion surgery are also rated at 20%.

The Veteran's left lower extremity disorder and hypertension are not service-connected, but the Board finds that the Veteran's current conditions are related to his service-connected cervical spine disability.

The appellant has withdrawn her appeal, and the Board dismissed it due to lack of allegations of errors in the determination.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss, PTSD, and neck disability are denied. The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for PTSD prior to February 2, 2018 is remanded. The Veteran's claims for an increased rating for neck disability prior to August 21, 2020 and a compensable rating for GERD with hiatal hernia prior to August 21, 2020 are also remanded.

The Board has remanded the case for a retrospective medical opinion to assess the severity of the Veteran's service-connected cervical strain prior to April 30, 2019.

The Veteran seeks increased ratings for his cervical spine disability prior to October 14, 2020. The Board finds that remand is necessary due to the inadequacy of the November 2012 examination report.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for left leg pain and right lower radiculopathy, as further development is needed to determine if these conditions are related to service-connected disabilities or pre-existing conditions.

The Board has remanded the case due to a need for a new VA examination to assess the Veteran's cervical spine disability, as the current rating criteria have changed. The issue of a higher rating for degenerative disc disease with cervical strain remains under review.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's neck disability, including his service connection claim. A new VA examination is needed to determine if the condition is related to his military service.

The Veteran's cervical spine condition is denied as not related to service.,A single 10 percent rating for left 4th finger disability and right 5th finger disability, based on arthritis of two minor joint groups, is granted.

The Veteran's initial claim for a higher rating for his cervical spine disability was denied as the evidence did not show that his condition met or approximated the criteria for a higher rating prior to July 6, 2011.,A remand was ordered due to insufficient evidence showing that the Veteran’s cervical spine disability warranted an increased rating from July 6, 2011 onwards.

The Board denied service connection for cervical and lumbar spine disabilities, finding that the Veteran's current conditions were not shown as chronic in service or within a presumptive period, and continuity of symptomatology was not established. The disabilities are considered to be attributable to intercurrent causes.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for cervical and lumbar spine disabilities due to inadequate examination findings.