Neck / cervical spine decisions — 2021

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the severity of the Veteran's service-connected cervical spine strain prior to August 25, 2016. The VA needs to obtain a retrospective opinion considering functional impairments caused by pain during flare-ups or with repeated use over time.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine the nature and etiology of any current low back, cervical spine, hearing loss, tinnitus, hepatitis C, acquired psychiatric disorder (including major depressive disorder and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD)), bilateral pes planus, and a cervical spine disorders. The case is REMANDED for these purposes.

The Board has granted service connection for cervical spine degenerative disc disease and denied service connection for right leg varicose veins, left leg varicose veins, a right hip disability, and a sleep disability.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient compliance with previous remand directives. The Veteran's neck disability is being reviewed again for a medical opinion regarding its etiology.

The Veteran's application to reopen a claim of entitlement to service connection for osteoarthritis of cervical neck is denied. The Board has also remanded the issues of service connection for left knee pain with arthritis and right knee pain with arthritis.

The Board has denied service connection for lumbar spine and cervical spine disabilities, as well as right and left upper extremity radiculopathy. The Veteran's current back disability is not considered to have had its onset in service or be otherwise causally related to service.

The Veteran's cervical spine and lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis disabilities have been restored to their previous ratings of 20 percent and 40 percent, respectively, effective April 3, 2013.

The Veteran's bilateral pes planus is rated at 50 percent, the maximum allowed.,Right and left upper extremity carpal tunnel syndrome are both rated at their respective maximums of 30% and 20%, respectively.,Cervical spine degenerative disc disease is rated at 10%. The Veteran's lumbar strain has been granted staged ratings, with a 10% rating from September 21, 2003 to September 16, 2019 and a 20% rating thereafter.,The Veteran’s claims for higher initial ratings are denied.

The Board has restored service connection for a cervical spine disability. Service connection was denied for left hand and wrist, left shin splints, right shin splints, left ankle, right ankle, and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render her unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment, and the Board denies a TDIU.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevented her from being gainfully employed since January 28, 2010.

The Board denied service connection for left shoulder, right shoulder, and nausea disabilities due to lack of current diagnoses and no evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's cervical spine disorder is not related to his service or service-connected PTSD, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for degenerative arthritis and degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine due to additional development being needed.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection of cervical condition, syncope, and systemic lupus erythematous with rhabdomyolysis due to the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including unspecified depressive disorder, atypical headaches with features of migraines, chronic lumbar strain with degenerative disc disease, and other conditions, have rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment. The Board has granted his claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Veteran's cervical spine disability is rated at 30 percent, and he is granted service connection for headaches as an objective neurologic abnormality associated with his cervical spine disability. The issue of TDIU is referred to the AOJ.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection due to additional development being necessary.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for GERD, lumbar spine disability, cervical spine disability, and right shoulder disability have been denied. The VA has determined that the current symptoms do not warrant a higher rating under any applicable diagnostic codes.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various hand, wrist, shoulder, and spine disorders have been denied as there is no evidence of in-service incurrence or a nexus to service.