Neck / cervical spine decisions — 2021

The Board has remanded the claims for entitlement to service connection for a right knee disability, left shoulder disability, right shoulder disability, and cervical spine disability due to inadequate examinations.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension and degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine and lumbar spine, but denied service connection for bilateral lung disability and bilateral upper/lower extremity radiculopathy. The decision is remanded for further development in the case of a bilateral eye disability.

The Veteran was found unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation prior to June 5, 2012 due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's neck disability, finding that it is related to his active duty service.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and opinion regarding service connection for cervical spine disorder, UTIs, and ear disorders. The Veteran's claims are based on direct evidence of injury during service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings have been dismissed due to their death.

The Board denied service connection for cervical spine/neck disorder, lumbar spine/back disorder, right knee disorder, right ankle disorder, right thumb disorder, and bilateral hearing loss as the appellant did not have a disability during ACDUTRA or INACDUTRA that was aggravated by military service.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for thoracolumbar spine, left knee, left hip, and cervical spine disabilities due to incomplete development and inadequate medical opinions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to incomplete VA examination opinions and lack of consideration of certain evidence.

The Veteran's claims for increased initial ratings and separate compensable ratings were denied as the evidence did not support higher disability ratings based on service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's lumbar spine degenerative disc disease rating was reduced from 40% to 20%, effective June 1, 2017. The reduction is being remanded as it may have been improper.,The Veteran’s lumbar spine degenerative disc disease has now been restored to a 40% rating.

The Veteran's back condition was granted increased ratings from February 11, 2010 to February 23, 2011 and again from February 24, 2011.,An earlier effective date of February 11, 2010 for the award of a total disability rating based upon individual unemployability (TDIU) was granted.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for SMC based on statutory housebound status as he does not have a single service-connected disability rated totally disabling, to include consideration of total disability based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for a cervical spine disability and sleep apnea due to inadequate opinions in the previous VA examinations. The Veteran testified about neck injuries and sleep-related problems during service, which need to be evaluated again by VA clinicians.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are remanded due to the need for updated VA examinations. The TDIU claim is also remanded as it may impact other claims.

The Veteran's claim for left knee calcific tendinitis, infrapatellar tendon was reopened and granted. Tinnitus and anxiety disorder were also granted.,Bilateral hearing loss, right and left knee disorders (including right knee posttraumatic residual degenerative joint disease), thoracolumbar spine disorder, cervical spine disorder, and headaches (claimed as cephalgia) are all remanded for further evaluation.

The Board has remanded the cases due to insufficient rationale in previous medical opinions and incomplete records. The Veteran's low back and neck disabilities are being reviewed again for a proper determination of service connection.

The Veteran's claim for higher evaluations of his cervical spine disability is being remanded due to the need for additional records and consideration.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim for a cervical spine disability due to additional development and adjudication, including an in-person VA examination.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for lower back, left hip, and cervical spine disorders due to a lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service.