Neck / cervical spine decisions — 2022

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's cervical spine disability, finding that it is caused by his service-connected lumbar spine disability.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for cervical spine and lumbar spine arthritis as there are outstanding service treatment records from his periods of active duty, and a VA examination is needed.

The Board denied service connection for degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine and nerve damage in right arm and hand, finding that there was no evidence linking these conditions to service or a service-connected disability.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a right knee disability was denied in 1991, but new evidence has now been submitted to reopen the claim.,Service connection is granted for a posterior cruciate ligament injury of the right knee.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for a cervical spine disability, left hip disability, and effective date for degenerative arthritis of the spine with intervertebral disc syndrome. The Veteran's claims are also being remanded for additional development related to her TDIU prior to August 26, 2019.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining retrospective opinions on the severity of his disabilities since April 2011.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and a need for further examination. The issues include headaches, PTSD, brain aneurysm, TBI, balance disability, sleep apnea, bilateral hearing loss, dental disability, cervical spine disability, thoracolumbar spine disability, right wrist disability, left wrist disability, right thumb disability, left thumb disability, right knee disability, and left knee disability.

The Veteran's TBI and acquired psychiatric disorder are granted service connection. The cervical spine, lumbar spine, left ankle, and right ankle disorders are remanded for further examination.

The Veteran's service connection claims for cervical spine, lumbar spine, bilateral knee, bilateral ankle, and sleep apnea disorders have been denied as there is no evidence of a current disability or nexus to service.,Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD, depression, and insomnia) has been remanded due to the need for further development.

Service connection is denied for cervical spine disability, lumbar spine disability, right and left upper extremity neurological disabilities (other than bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome), right and left lower extremity neurological disabilities, bilateral hearing loss disability, and tinnitus.,The Veteran's current cervical and lumbar spine disabilities are not related to service.

The Veteran's initial rating for cervical spine disability was denied, but a 20 percent rating was granted for radiculopathy of the left upper extremity beginning January 31, 2018. The Veteran's initial rating for radiculopathy of the right upper extremity was also granted at this time, with a higher rating being denied thereafter. A 10 percent rating was granted for GERD with gastritis, hiatal hernia, and status post surgery Nissen repair fundoplication with surgical scars.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for cervical spine and right hip disabilities due to a lack of VA medical examinations and opinions.

The Board has granted service connection for a lumbar spine disorder, cervical spine disorder, and left knee disorder based on the Veteran's credible reports of symptoms during active duty.

The Board has remanded the case due to concerns raised in a Joint Motion for Partial Remand, which requires further action consistent with the Court's decision. Specifically, the Veteran needs a new VA examination to address his functional loss during flare-ups and after repetitive use over time.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings were denied. The Board found no current disability of the feet, and the claim was denied on the basis that there is no evidence of a chronic foot condition during service or since. For his anxiety disorder with TBI, the Board determined that the General Rating Formula for Mental Disorders (DC 9413) should be used, resulting in a 50% rating.

The Board has remanded the claims for cervical spine disorder and diabetes mellitus, type II due to insufficient opinions regarding their etiology. The Veteran's service records do not provide clear evidence of these conditions during or immediately after his military service.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's cervical spine degeneration and bilateral wrist disability are not service-connected as secondary to her service-connected right shoulder disability, and thus remanded for further development.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's neck disability, including as secondary to his service-connected adjustment disorder. The Board found that the Veteran's current neck disability is at least as likely as not incurred in or caused by his active-duty service.

The Board has remanded the claims for hypertension, neck disability, back disability, residuals of rib fractures, erectile dysfunction, and kidney disease due to additional evidentiary development.

The Board denied service connection for a cervical spine disability, finding that the Veteran's statements about continuity of symptoms since service are not credible and that there is no causal relationship between his cervical spine disability and his in-service assault.