Neck / cervical spine decisions — 2021

The Board has denied service connection for cervical spine and lumbar spine disabilities, but granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability.

The Board has granted the Veteran's appeals to reopen his claims for service connection for a cervical spine disorder and insomnia/sleep disturbance.,However, these claims are still pending as they have not been decided on their merits.

The Board has denied a rating in excess of 30 percent for the Veteran's cervical spine disability and has remanded the issue of service connection for numbness of the face. The case is now being returned to the agency of original jurisdiction (AOJ) for further development.

The Board has remanded the cases due to new evidence submitted after the August 2019 Statement of the Case.

The Veteran's claims for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss, service connection for a cervical spine disability, and ratings for low back IVDS with DJD have been remanded due to inadequate development. The TDIU claim is also remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for impotence as secondary to medications prescribed for a service-connected lumbar spine disability. Service connection was denied for cervical spine, right upper extremity radiculopathy, and left upper extremity radiculopathy.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for cervical spine and low back disorders, finding that there is no evidence of a nexus between these conditions and his military service.

The Board has dismissed all claims related to the Veteran's service connection, including those for Hepatitis C, PTSD, Right Knee Condition, Tuberculosis, Cervical Spine Disability, Thoracolumbar Spine Disability, and Diabetes due to the death of the Veteran.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for mitral valve regurgitation and peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral feet and left leg. The claims are now remanded to obtain additional medical opinions regarding the relationship between these conditions and service, including environmental or toxic exposure during her Southwest Asia service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied. The cervical spine disability was granted a 40% rating, but the left and right upper extremity radiculopathy claims remain denied.

The Veteran's appeal for an earlier effective date for service connection and a higher rating for his cervical spine disability was denied. Appeals for increased ratings for myositis of the upper extremities were dismissed, as was the TDIU claim due to legacy appeals being dismissed.

The Board has granted service connection for a neck disability, finding that the Veteran's symptoms began during his active military service. The issue of entitlement to an increased rating for lumbosacral strain is remanded due to inadequate range of motion testing in prior examinations.

The Board denied service connection for cervical strain, bilateral knee strains, respiratory disorder (including rhinitis and asthma), and bilateral hearing loss. The Veteran's claims were not supported by probative medical evidence showing the conditions were incurred in or aggravated by service.,There is no clear and unmistakable evidence of a preexisting condition at induction.

The Board has granted service connection for cervical spine degenerative disc disease, atherosclerosis, and anemia. Service connection is granted based on the presumption of exposure to contaminated water in Camp Lejeune.,Service connection was also remanded for benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH).

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for gastritis, dysthymia, bilateral hearing loss, and neck disability due to additional development being necessary.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings are being remanded due to the need for additional medical evidence, including private records from various providers.

The Board has decided to remand the cases of a right knee disability and a cervical spine disability for additional development.

The Board granted a 20 percent rating for the Veteran's cervical strain with degenerative disc disease and bilateral neural foraminal narrowing, finding that his condition more nearly approximates the criteria for such a rating. The decision also noted that he does not meet the criteria for an increase in excess of 20 percent.

The Board has remanded two issues: service connection for a cervical spine disorder and secondary service connection for neuropathy of the right arm and hand. The case must be returned due to inadequate examination.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is remanded as the VA needs to assess the collective impact of his service-connected disabilities on his ability to work.