Neck / cervical spine decisions — 2022

The Veteran's IBS is currently rated at 30 percent, and his cervical spondylosis with cervical strain is rated at 30 percent prior to December 1, 2021, and at 30 percent thereafter. The Veteran has been granted a rating of 30 percent for his cervical spondylosis with cervical strain effective December 1, 2021.,The Board has remanded the issue of service connection for rectal bleeding/hemorrhoids as secondary to IBS.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development due to inadequate opinions regarding service connection for right knee, cervical spine, and lumbar spine disabilities.

The Veteran's cervical and lumbar spine disabilities are currently rated based on their severity, with a 30 percent rating for the cervical spine and a 40 percent rating for the lumbar spine. The appeal is denied as the Veteran does not meet the criteria for higher ratings.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for cervical spine, lumbar spine, left knee, right knee, left shoulder, and right shoulder disabilities due to in-service injuries. Additional development is required including obtaining VA treatment records from 1969 to 2000, conducting new examinations to determine service connection, and considering the Veteran's statements regarding combat-related injuries.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for left wrist arthritis as secondary to his service-connected left wrist fibroma, finding that there is a nexus between the current condition and military service.

The Veteran's cervical and lumbar spine disabilities were found to not meet the criteria for a higher rating, with no functional limitations or incapacitating episodes.

The Board denied service connection for various disabilities, including left ear hearing loss, cardiac disability, cervical spine disability, hip disabilities, knee disabilities, ankle disabilities, and shoulder and foot disabilities. The decision is based on the lack of evidence linking these conditions to service.,Service connection was not granted for any of the claimed disabilities.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's increased initial rating claim for further development due to insufficient compliance with previous remand directives. The Veteran's cervical spine disability is currently rated at 20 percent, and the evidence does not meet the criteria for a higher rating under the applicable VA regulations.

The Veteran's cervical strain is currently rated at 10 percent, and the Board has found that there is not enough evidence to warrant a higher rating. The issues of service connection for left hand disability and right hand disability remain pending as they have been remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for cervical spine disability, lower back disability, and right knee disability (degenerative arthritis) as these conditions are found to be at least as likely as not incurred in or caused by the Veteran's active-duty service.

Service connection for small fiber sensorimotor neuropathy, thoracolumbar spine disability, degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) due to Gulf War Hazards has been granted.,The application to reopen the claim for entitlement to service connection for sleep apnea is remanded.

The Veteran's left arm radiculopathy is found to be secondary to her service-connected cervical spine disorder.,Other claims are remanded for further development and consideration.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a disability rating in excess of 20 percent for cervical spine arthritis with intervertebral disc syndrome, a compensable rating as of May 24, 2016, for LUE radiculopathy, and TDIU due to service-connected disabilities. The appeals are remanded because the Veteran did not provide updated VA treatment records and employment information.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened, and the Board has remanded several issues related to his low back pain, neck disability, chest pain, shoulder disabilities, and knee disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for right knee and left knee chondromalacia patella, but remanded the claims for bilateral knee arthritis, cervical spine condition, increased rating for bilateral hearing loss, service connection for hypertension, and total disability rating due to individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Veteran's back disability is granted service connection. The neck, right hip, left ankle, heart, kidney, head trauma, and seizures disabilities are denied as not related to service.

The Board has found that the Veteran submitted a timely Notice of Disagreement (NOD) with the June 2018 rating decision, but an SOC has not yet been issued. The case is being remanded to issue an SOC and allow the Veteran to perfect his appeal by submitting a VA Form 9.

All appeals for service connection and evaluations have been dismissed. A TDIU is granted from January 30, 2018.

The Board has remanded the cases due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's cervical and lumbar spine disabilities. The VA examiners were asked to address whether these disabilities are related to service, but did not provide sufficient rationale for their conclusions.

The Board has remanded the case for further examination and evaluation, as the current VA examinations do not comply with legal requirements. The Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea, cervical spine strain, and thoracolumbar spine strain are being reviewed.