Neck / cervical spine decisions — 2022

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including migraines and cervical spine conditions, render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral shoulder and knee disorders, but granted service connection for cervical degenerative arthritis and DDD. The appeal is not about service connection at all in the case of a bilateral hip disability.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a neck disability and tinnitus due to errors in handling his allegations of personal assaults during service. The VA is instructed to provide proper notice, review additional records if necessary, and schedule appropriate medical examinations.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for cervical spine radiculopathy, finding that there was no current disability and insufficient evidence to establish a causal relationship between the claimed condition and service or any incident therein.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for further evidentiary development, including obtaining a retrospective examination report from an appropriate physician.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including low back and neck conditions, major depressive disorder, traumatic brain injury, and right foot hallux valgus with degenerative arthritis, have prevented him from securing or following substantially gainful employment since September 2016.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for cervical spine disability, lumbar spine disability, and erectile dysfunction due to inadequate VA opinions in previous examinations.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his neck and back disabilities have been denied as the evidence does not support a higher rating under the applicable criteria.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and consideration, including obtaining addendum opinions regarding the Veteran's right elbow disability. The TDIU claim is also being remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional examinations to determine the current severity of his service-connected cervical and lumbar spine disabilities, including during flare-ups. The issues are related to the Veteran's complaints of symptoms such as numbness, tingling, weakness in arms/hands and legs, bladder frequency, and functional loss due to these conditions.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for various conditions have been withdrawn and are dismissed.,Entitlement to a disability rating in excess of 30 percent for chronic asthmatic bronchitis has not been met.

The Veteran's right shoulder disability is granted service connection based on aggravation. The lumbar spine and cervical spine disabilities are granted increased ratings from November 22, 2011 to December 13, 2021.

The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of clarity in the September 2016 VA medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine is related to service. The examiner needs to provide an addendum opinion addressing the significance of the 1994 X-ray findings and the June 2012 medical opinion.

The Board dismissed the appeals of service connection claims due to the death of the appellant.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus was denied, and the Board found no new and material evidence to reopen the claim.,The Veteran's psychiatric disorder is rated at 30 percent, but not higher. The Board did not find any additional symptoms warranting a higher rating.,Service connection for cervical spine disability, left ankle disability, and lumbar spine disability was granted effective May 11, 2016. The Veteran requested earlier dates, which were denied as there was no indication of intent to claim these disabilities prior to that date.,The Veteran's left lower extremity radiculopathy and right lower extremity radiculopathy were also granted service connection effective May 11, 2016. Again, the Veteran requested earlier dates which were denied as there was no indication of intent to claim these disabilities prior to that date.,Service connection for left upper extremity radiculopathy and right upper extremity radiculopathy is remanded due to lack of evidence supporting secondary service connection.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to conflicting medical opinions and a lack of substantial compliance with previous remand directives.

The Veteran's service connection claims for hypertension, cervical spine disability, and headaches are granted. The Veteran is also awarded a higher rating for his TMJ disorder as of October 28, 2021.

The Board has remanded the cases due to lack of substantial compliance with previous instructions. The cervical spine and left hip disorders are being reviewed again for proper service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right upper extremity peripheral nerve condition, diagnosed as cervical radiculopathy and nerve neuropathy of the carpal tunnel, is secondary to his service-connected cervical spine disability. The decision grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine, status post anterior cervical discectomy and fusion is being remanded due to an inadequate opinion from a previous VA examiner. The Board requests another opinion to consider the Veteran's reported lay-observable neck symptoms during the 27-year period between 1979 and 2006.