Neck / cervical spine decisions — 2022

The Board has determined that further medical examination is needed to determine if the Veteran's service-connected disabilities alone meet the necessary criteria for eligibility for assistance in acquiring a certificate for SAH or an SHA grant. The examiner must consider whether the Veteran's ambulation impairment and need for a wheelchair are related to his service-connected spine and left ankle disabilities or due to a nonservice-connected CVA.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding the Veteran's neck disability, specifically related to flare-ups. The claim will be returned for further development and consideration.

The Board has remanded the cases due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the Veteran's neck disability and its relation to service. The TDIU claim is also remanded as it may be significantly impacted by the outcome of the service connection claim.

The Veteran's appeals for a rating in excess of 30 percent for migraine headaches, service connection for a cervical spine disability, and bilateral hearing loss have been dismissed due to the Veteran's withdrawal.,The Veteran's appeals for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability (to include PTSD) and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) are being remanded for further development.

The Board has denied service connection for a cervical spine disability as the evidence does not establish that the Veteran had such a condition during his period of active duty or within one year after separation.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for low back, neck, left knee, and right knee disabilities as well as hypertension due to unclear opinions from a VA examiner.

The appeal for service connection on all issues except hypertension has been dismissed. The claim for reopening of the previously denied claim for service connection for hypertension is granted.

The Board denied service connection for cervical spine, right ankle, left ankle, right knee, left knee, right hip, and left shoulder disabilities due to lack of evidence showing onset in or causation related to service.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim to reopen his service connection for cervical strain and finds that he is entitled to service connection based on continuity of symptomatology since service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for specially adapted housing or special home adaptation grant due to lack of loss of use, blindness, burns, ALS, inhalation injury, or other permanent and total disability.

The Board has determined that the issuance of a Supplemental Statement of the Case (SSOC) is warranted due to additional evidence received after transfer of records to the Board, and the case is being remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for a higher rating on his bilateral hearing loss disability was denied. His petition to reopen the cervical spine disability claim was granted, but service connection was still not established.

The Board has remanded the cases for further examination and opinion regarding service connection for a right ankle disability. The neck disability claim is denied.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a neck disability due to lack of current evidence.,The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for an eye disability, bilateral foot disability, and bilateral hip disability (secondary to bilateral foot disability).

The Board has granted service connection for cervical spine degenerative joint disease (cervical spine arthritis) due to a chronic disease presumptive under 38 C.F.R. § 3.303(b). The decision is based on an in-service injury and continuous symptoms since service separation.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder had its onset during service and is granting service connection for this condition. The remaining issues, including those related to cervical and lumbar spine disabilities, memory disorders, and TDIU, are remanded due to inadequate or incomplete evidence.

The Veteran's lower back injury is denied as there is no persuasive evidence of a nexus between the current condition and service.,The Veteran's bilateral flatfeet are rated at 30% since October 16, 2020. The claim for higher ratings prior to that date is remanded due to lack of compliance with remand directives.,Service connection for chronic headaches, allergic rhinitis (chronic nose bleeding), and sleep apnea syndrome is remanded as the RO did not substantially comply with remand directives.,Service connection for cervical spine pain and right jaw injury with residuals is also remanded due to lack of compliance with remand directives.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for cervical spine, left wrist, right wrist, left hand, and right hand conditions due to insufficient examination opinions. The Veteran is not service-connected for GERD.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a neck disability and a right hand disability, including as due to a service-connected left forearm disability. The evidence did not support an etiological link between these disabilities and active service.

The Board denied service connection for rhinitis, loss of teeth, and neck disability as secondary to service-connected residuals of fractured mandible and maxilla. Sinusitis and headaches are remanded due to insufficient etiology opinions.,Service connection was not granted for the Veteran's claimed conditions.