Neck / cervical spine decisions — 2021

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for cervical spine disability and lumbar strain due to inadequate examinations in previous decisions. The issues are now pending for further review.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for cervical spine disability, lumbar spine disability, and hypertension due to service connection issues. The earlier effective date claim is also remanded.

The Board denied a rating in excess of 10 percent for the Veteran's cervical spine disability, finding that his symptoms did not warrant such an increase.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for left knee pain syndrome, psychiatric disability including PTSD, and cervical spine disability due to insufficient evidence regarding the veracity of in-service stressors. The VA will need to verify the alleged stressors and conduct further examinations.

The Board has denied a higher rating for the right knee meniscectomy and granted effective dates of November 25, 2003 for service connection of upper extremity radiculopathies. The cervical strain claim is remanded.

The appeal for an earlier effective date prior to March 26, 2009 for the grant of service connection for cervical spondylosis with minor canal stenosis and minor cord compression with degenerative arthritis is dismissed.,Your disability rating for cervical spondylosis with minor canal stenosis and minor cord compression with degenerative arthritis remains at 20 percent.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development regarding cervical spine, right knee, left knee, and right shoulder disabilities. Service connection claims for lumbar spine disability and gastrointestinal disability are also remanded.

The Board denied service connection for a cervical spine disability, including degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine, intervertebral disc syndrome (IVDS), anterior cervical discectomy and fusion, and cervical radiculopathy, finding that the preponderance of evidence did not support a link to service or a service-connected condition.

The Veteran's increased rating claim for cervical spine degenerative arthritis and degenerative disc disease is denied as the current disability does not meet or approximate the criteria for a higher rating under any applicable diagnostic code.

The Board denied service connection for chronic venous insufficiency of the right lower extremity and a cervical spine disorder, finding no significant correlation between these conditions and the Veteran's service-connected bilateral pes cavus.,Service connection was also denied for a cervical spine disorder. The Board noted that there were no complaints or diagnoses related to a cervical spine disorder in the Veteran's STRs.

The Veteran is rendered unemployable as the result of his service-connected disabilities prior to July 10, 2018. The Board finds that the evidence supports a finding that the Veteran’s service-connected disabilities precluded him from performing sedentary work prior to July 10, 2018.

The Board has remanded the service connection issues for additional development due to incomplete records and need for a VA examination.

The Board denied service connection for cervical disability and left shoulder strain, finding that the evidence did not support a link to active service or any other period of duty. The Veteran's current conditions are attributed to age-related degeneration and overuse.

The Board dismissed the appeals of the Veteran's claims for service connection due to his death.

The Veteran's cervical spine disability was initially rated at 10% prior to May 29, 2003. From May 29, 2003 to July 20, 2020, the disability was rated at 30%. Since then, it has been denied for an evaluation in excess of 30%.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened due to the submission of new and material evidence.,Service connection has been granted for back pain, DDD of the cervical spine, headaches (secondary to back and cervical disabilities), right lower extremity radiculopathy, left lower extremity radiculopathy, prostate problems, and skin rashes.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's service connection claims for thoracolumbar spondylosis, degenerative disc disease without radiculopathy, and cervical spine disability. A new VA examination is required to determine if these conditions are related to service.

The Board has found that additional development is needed for the Veteran's claims of higher ratings for his cervical spine and knee disabilities, as VA examinations were not conducted as requested in a previous remand. The case is being returned to the RO for these purposes.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation since at least February 2008.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is granted. The increased ratings for migraine headaches, cervical strain with degenerative joint and disc disease, herniated nucleus pulposus with degenerative joint and disc disease, and traumatic brain injury are denied.