Neck / cervical spine decisions — 2021

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for additional development due to the need for addendum medical opinions and range of motion measurements.

The Board has remanded the claim for a cervical spine disability due to insufficient reasoning in the previous VA opinion and the need for an addendum opinion considering the Veteran's lay reports of neck problems since service.

The Board denied service connection for the Veteran's claimed conditions, finding that there is no evidence of a current disability and insufficient medical nexus to support a secondary relationship.,Service connection was not granted as the preponderance of the evidence did not show that the Veteran’s current conditions began during or are otherwise related to his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's neck disability, but remanded the issues of service connection for his lumbar spine and left knee disabilities.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent, but the evidence does not support a higher rating due to symptoms that do not meet the criteria for a 70 percent rating.,The Veteran's cervical spine disability with cervical strain is currently rated at 20 percent and does not warrant an increase in rating as his range of motion meets the current criteria for this rating level.,The Veteran's lumbar spine disability with lumbar strain is currently rated at 20 percent and does not warrant an increase in rating as his range of motion also meets the current criteria for this rating level.

The Board has remanded the case due to issues regarding secondary service connection for a cervical spine disability, and because there is no medical opinion concerning this theory. The Veteran's representative raised the theory that her current cervical spine disability was caused or aggravated by her service-connected degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine with spinal stenosis.

The Board denied a higher rating for the Veteran's service-connected degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine, finding that it did not meet the criteria for a higher than 20 percent rating.

The Veteran's initial claim for a rating of 30 percent for degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine is granted. The issue of entitlement to higher ratings and TDIU prior to September 27, 2018 remains pending.

The Board has remanded the issues of an effective date prior to February 12, 2012, for the grant of a separate compensable rating for right cervical radiculopathy and initial ratings for cervical spine strain with degenerative arthritis and mild reversal of normal lordosis since February 12, 2012.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection and secondary service connection for a neck disability, finding that there was no evidence to support these claims.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim of service connection for a neck disability, finding that there is no causal relationship between his current condition and his active duty service or any service-connected conditions. The Board also found insufficient evidence to support secondary service connection.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a neck disability and temporary total rating based on convalescence following September 8, 2017 posterior cervical decompressive laminectomies are being remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Board has ordered a remand to determine if the Veteran's cervical spine disability was preexisting and aggravated by service, or if it is related to service.

The Veteran's cervical and/or thoracic spine condition is granted under the provisions of 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for an unforeseeable event during his May 2009 surgery.

The Board has granted service connection for cervical spine degenerative changes and lumbar intervertebral disc disorder, both of which are related to injuries sustained during active duty.

Your claims for increased ratings have been dismissed as the Veteran requested withdrawal of these claims before a decision was made.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a deviated nasal septum, sleep apnea, and a neck disability. The VA examiners found that there was no evidence of these conditions in service or any link to service.,The Veteran's contentions regarding the onset of his disabilities were not supported by medical evidence.

The Board has remanded the claim of service connection for a cervical spine condition due to an inadequate examination and the need for updated VA treatment records. The examiner is requested to provide an addendum opinion addressing whether it is at least as likely as not that the Veteran's cervical condition was incurred in service or is otherwise related to an in-service injury, disease, or event.

The Board denied service connection for low back, neck, bilateral hip, right knee, and pelvis injuries sustained during active service. The evidence did not support the Veteran's claims of in-service onset or causation.,Service connection was granted for TBI residuals, migraine headaches, right ear hearing loss, and tinnitus on a lay basis.

The Board dismissed the appeal for bilateral hearing loss and granted service connection for depression and anxiety disorders, PTSD with depression and anxiety, low back disorder, neck/cervical spine disorder, left knee disorder, right knee disorder, left ankle disorder, right ankle disorder, tinnitus, and erectile dysfunction. The decision on these issues is based on their merits.