Neck / cervical spine decisions — 2021

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings of his lumbar and cervical spine disabilities were remanded due to lack of evidence showing the required limitations in range of motion or ankylosis.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to non-compliance with previous remand directives and a need for further development, including obtaining updated VA records and an addendum opinion from the March 2020 examiner regarding the etiology of the Veteran's cervical spine disability.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the Veteran's claims regarding his cervical spine, lumbar strain, upper and lower extremity neuropathy, and skin disabilities. The claims are being remanded to obtain updated findings from VA examinations.

The Board denied service connection for a cervical spine disorder and a left hand disorder, finding that the current conditions are not related to service.

The Veteran's initial claim for increased ratings was denied. The Board upheld the denial of higher initial ratings for various disabilities, including arthritis and sarcoid arthropathy.

The Veteran's cervical spine degenerative disc disease with IVDS is rated at 10 percent from August 4, 2010 and 30 percent from March 27, 2019. The Board finds that a higher evaluation is not warranted for the period prior to March 27, 2019. For the period after March 27, 2019, a higher evaluation of 40 percent or more is not warranted due to lack of unfavorable ankylosis.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for cervical and lumbosacral spine disabilities are being remanded due to inadequate examinations conducted in October 2019. The new examinations must comply with the Board's previous directives regarding range of motion during flare-ups or repetitive use.

The Board has denied service connection for lumbar and cervical spine disabilities, finding that the Veteran's conditions did not have their onset in service or are otherwise causally related to his military service.

The Board denied service connection for a cervical spine disability, finding that the Veteran's current condition did not onset in service or within one year of his separation from service and is not causally related to his service.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to obtain an addendum medical opinion regarding the Veteran's cervical spine disability, including its relationship to service and any in-service injury or complaints of back pain.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development due to incomplete or conflicting medical evidence. The issues of increased ratings for left ankle fracture residuals with DJD, cervical spine degenerative arthritis, and left knee instability are being remanded.

The Veteran's healed right wrist fracture is rated at 10 percent, which is the highest rating available under DC 5215.,The Veteran's DDD of the cervical spine was initially granted but not rated higher than 20 percent prior to December 15, 2014. After that date, a 30 percent rating has been assigned.,Beginning December 15, 2014, the Veteran is entitled to a 30 percent rating for his DDD of the cervical spine.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals regarding the initial rating for anxiety, service connection for LUE radiculopathy, RUE radiculopathy, and cervical spine disability. The claims are dismissed.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development due to incomplete records and inadequate examination reports.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional examinations and evaluations to address the severity of her cervical strain, thoracolumbar strain, sleep apnea, tinea pedis with mycotic toenails, PTSD, and traumatic brain injury. The appeals are also being remanded due to a lack of compliance with VA examination requirements.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims of service connection for a neck disability and secondary service connection for right upper extremity radiculopathy, finding that these conditions are related to his in-service injuries.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a bilateral shoulder disability, neck disability, and headache disability due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and review, including addressing issues related to restoration of payments, effective dates for ratings, and service connection for radiculopathy. The Veteran's TDIU claim is also being remanded.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for further development due to concerns about the qualifications of the VA examiners who provided the most recent examination reports. The Veteran's service connection claims related to bilateral shoulder, cervical spine, thoracolumbar spine, and left foot disorders are being returned to the AOJ for additional development.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for back and neck disabilities due to a hazing incident in-service. The RO is instructed to obtain relevant records from the Florida Division of Vocational Rehabilitation, workers' compensation records, and private treatment records.