Neck / cervical spine decisions — 2021

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for low back, neck, left elbow, and occipital headaches disabilities secondary to the service-connected right knee disability due to insufficient medical opinions in the March 2018 remand. The Veteran's statements regarding a fall in 2009 after his right knee gave out are to be considered.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for neck disability, back condition, bilateral knee condition, right hip condition, and migraines due to additional development. The claims are being remanded for VA examinations to determine the current disabilities and their etiology.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining nexus opinions for all currently diagnosed respiratory disorders.

The Veteran's neck disability is rated at 60 percent effective April 11, 2012. The Veteran’s right and left lower extremity femoral nerve radiculopathy are each rated at 20 percent effective January 6, 2021. A TDIU has been granted.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeal, leaving no issues for the Board to consider.

The Board has remanded the cases due to insufficient opinions regarding service connection for cervical spine disorder and acquired psychiatric disorder, as well as scheduling a DRO hearing for lumbar spine disorder.

The Board has remanded the claims for hypertension, cervical spine disorder, and sleep disorder due to incomplete or inaccurate medical opinions and need for additional VA examinations.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for back and cervical spine disabilities due to additional development being needed.

The Veteran's headaches, characterized as migraines and paroxysmal hemicrania, are rated at 50 percent disabling. The Board finds that the current rating adequately reflects her disability.,The Veteran's lumbosacral strain is currently rated at 20 percent. The Board finds that the current rating adequately reflects her disability.,The Veteran's cervical strain is currently rated at 20 percent. The Board finds that the current rating adequately reflects her disability.

The Veteran's increased disability ratings for DDD and DJD of the lumbar spine, cervical spine, left shoulder, and tension headaches are granted with an effective date of December 1, 2013.

The Board has determined that the VA examinations conducted in response to the July 2018 remand were inadequate and requires further examination. The Veteran's claims for service connection are tied to a not-yet-filed claim for service connection for fibromyalgia, which needs to be filed and adjudicated before further consideration can occur regarding his other service connection claims.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for right shoulder disability and cervical and lumbosacral spine disabilities due to lack of compliance with previous remand directives. The Veteran's current back disabilities are being requested to be addressed in a new VA examination.

The Board denied service connection for arthritis of the spine, shoulder arthritis, flat feet, a metal plate in the cervical spine, and back spasms as there was no evidence that these conditions began during or were related to service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for cervical spine, lumbar spine, and right hip disabilities. The decision concluded that there was no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board denied service connection for cervical spine and lumbar spine disorders, finding that the evidence did not support a link to service or a continuity of symptoms since service.

The Board has remanded the case for a new examination to determine the current severity of the Veteran's cervical spine disability and to evaluate whether his headaches are caused or aggravated by this condition. The issue of entitlement to an increased rating remains under review.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection have been remanded by the Board.,The Veteran's cervical spine disability is currently rated at 30 percent, but a higher rating is denied.

The Board has remanded several service connection claims, including those for bilateral hearing loss, left shoulder disability, right wrist disability, perforated right ear drum, and cervical spine disability. The remaining claims of sinusitis, respiratory disability (including asthma and bronchitis), and gastroesophageal reflux disease have been remanded as well.

The Board denied service connection for cervical spine disability, finding that the Veteran's current condition was not shown as chronic in service or within one year of discharge and is not otherwise etiologically related to active service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for her cervical spine strain and sacroiliac (SI) joint and lumbar facet dysfunction are remanded due to the need for additional examinations that comply with the requirements of Correia v. McDonald.