Neck / cervical spine decisions — 2022

The Board has remanded the cases for further development, including obtaining inpatient treatment records from Madigan Army Medical Center and Brooke Army Hospital. The claims are not about service connection at all.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to outstanding medical questions and the need for additional examinations.

The Board has remanded the cases of cervical spine disability, depressive disorder with anxiety, and glaucoma for further development.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate compliance with prior directives and a need for additional medical opinions. The Veteran's claim of service connection for back disabilities is being reviewed again.

The Veteran's GERD is granted as service connected, and the cervical spine disability issue is remanded for further development.

The Board has decided the appeal is remanded due to concerns about the adequacy of a VA medical opinion and new evidence submitted by the Veteran's representative.

The Board has remanded the cases due to inability to make a fully informed decision and financial constraints preventing new examinations. The AOJ is instructed to reinvestigate options for obtaining necessary examinations abroad.

The Veteran's appeal for an initial disability rating in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus has been denied as the maximum schedular rating is already assigned.,Service connection for a right knee disability and left knee disability remains remanded due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology.,Service connection for degenerative disc disease (DDD) of the cervical spine remains remanded due to an inadequate examination report.,The Veteran's esophagus disability, including Barrett's esophagus and GERD, is presumed based on his exposure to herbicide agents while stationed at Nakhon Phanom RTAFB in Thailand.,Service connection for the esophagus disability remains remanded due to insufficient medical opinions regarding its etiology.

The Board has granted service connection for thoracolumbar and cervical spine disabilities, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's bilateral upper extremity neurological impairment, including carpal tunnel syndrome and other neuropathies.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and opinions. The issues include PTSD, left shoulder disorder, left knee disorder, back disorder, and cervical spine disorder.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's back disability, neck disability, and right leg disability (including right lower extremity radiculopathy), finding that there is an approximate balance of positive and negative evidence regarding the merits of these claims.

The Veteran's lumbar and cervical spine disabilities, bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy, left upper and right upper extremity peripheral neuropathies, as well as his left and right knee disabilities have been granted initial ratings. The TDIU has also been granted.

The Board has granted service connection for right and left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome, cervical spine degenerative disc disease (DDD), C5-6, lumbosacral strain, and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).,Service connection is established for these conditions based on the evidence showing a relationship to service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional record development, including obtaining private treatment records from Auxilio Mutuo hospital and VA treatment records from May 2020 to December 2020.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection and compensation were dismissed due to the death of the claimant. The Board has no jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of these appeals as the appellant is deceased.

The Board has determined that there was not substantial compliance with previous remand directives regarding the rating for right medial epicondylitis and the rating for degenerative joint disease (DJD) of the cervical spine. As a result, these issues are being returned to the AOJ for further development.

The Board has determined that there are relevant treatment records not yet obtained and remands the case for further development.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were dismissed. Service connection for PTSD due to MST was granted.

The Board has granted service connection for a back disability and remanded the issues of entitlement to service connection for a neck disability, bilateral hearing loss, and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).