Neck / cervical spine decisions — 2022

The Veteran's claims for service connection for HPV and cervical dysplasia/ascus favor dysplasia have been reopened due to the submission of new evidence. However, her initial claim was denied because the clinical findings alone were not considered a service-connected disability. The Board has now remanded these issues for further examination and opinion regarding whether the Veteran's conditions are related to service.

The Board has remanded the claims of reopening service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, as well as entitlement to service connection for a cervical spine disability, a bilateral hand disability, and hepatitis C due to outstanding VA treatment records.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary to determine the specific nature and etiology of the Veteran's radiculopathy of the right upper extremity, including cervical spondylosis. The Veteran seeks service connection for this condition, which was not previously granted.

The Board has remanded the cases for further action due to untranslated Spanish documents in the claims folder.

The Veteran's service-connected back and neck conditions rendered her unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation prior to November 29, 2021. The Board granted TDIU on an extra-schedular basis for this period.

The Veteran's tinnitus has been assigned a 10 percent evaluation throughout the appeal period, which is the maximum rating authorized for tinnitus under Diagnostic Code (DC) 6260.,The Veteran seeks service connection for bilateral hearing loss and contends that his current hearing loss was caused by in-service exposure to excessive noise. The VA examiner's opinion regarding the etiology of the current hearing loss disability is inadequate, and a new medical opinion should be obtained on remand.,The Veteran seeks service connection for right foot disability, left foot disability, bilateral shoulder disability, bilateral hip disability, bilateral knee disability, bilateral ankle disability, neck disability, and back disability. The VA examiner's opinion regarding the etiology of these disabilities is inadequate, and a new medical opinion should be obtained on remand.,The Veteran seeks service connection for right foot disability, left foot disability, bilateral shoulder disability, bilateral hip disability, bilateral knee disability, bilateral ankle disability, neck disability, and back disability. The VA examiner's opinion regarding the etiology of these disabilities is inadequate, and a new medical opinion should be obtained on remand.,The Veteran seeks service connection for right foot disability, left foot disability, bilateral shoulder disability, bilateral hip disability, bilateral knee disability, bilateral ankle disability, neck disability, and back disability. The VA examiner's opinion regarding the etiology of these disabilities is inadequate, and a new medical opinion should be obtained on remand.,The Veteran seeks service connection for right foot disability, left foot disability, bilateral shoulder disability, bilateral hip disability, bilateral knee disability, bilateral ankle disability, neck disability, and back disability. The VA examiner's opinion regarding the etiology of these disabilities is inadequate, and a new medical opinion should be obtained on remand.,The Veteran seeks service connection for right foot disability, left foot disability, bilateral shoulder disability, bilateral hip disability, bilateral knee disability, bilateral ankle disability, neck disability, and back disability. The VA examiner's opinion regarding the etiology of these disabilities is inadequate, and a new medical opinion should be obtained on remand.,The Veteran seeks service connection for right foot disability, left foot disability, bilateral shoulder disability, bilateral hip disability, bilateral knee disability, bilateral ankle disability, neck disability, and back disability. The VA examiner's opinion regarding the etiology of these disabilities is inadequate, and a new medical opinion should be obtained on remand.,The Veteran seeks service connection for right foot disability, left foot disability, bilateral shoulder disability, bilateral hip disability, bilateral knee disability, bilateral ankle disability, neck disability, and back disability. The VA examiner's opinion regarding the etiology of these disabilities is inadequate, and a new medical opinion should be obtained on remand.,The Veteran seeks service connection for right foot disability, left foot disability, bilateral shoulder disability, bilateral hip disability, bilateral knee disability, bilateral ankle disability, neck disability, and back disability. The VA examiner's opinion regarding the etiology of these disabilities is inadequate, and a new medical opinion should be obtained on remand.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection and rating for cervical spine disability, and right lower extremity radiculopathy were dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his appeal prior to a decision being made.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for referral to the Director of Compensation Service for extraschedular consideration of his claim for TDIU prior to December 27, 2011.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for cervical spine disability and bilateral hearing loss due to inconsistencies in the medical opinions provided. The Veteran is seeking service connection for these conditions, including as related to parachute jumping and noise exposure during military service.

The Board has dismissed all appeals as the Veteran withdrew his claims for service connection and ratings in excess of 20 percent, 30 percent, or compensable for various conditions. The RO granted service connection for sleep apnea.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a cervical spine condition, finding that it is not related to his active service or a service-connected lumbar spine disability.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including confirmation of herbicide agent exposure and VA examinations.

The Veteran is granted an intermediate level of SMC based on the need for regular aid and attendance due to his service-connected neck disability, left elbow disability, and psychiatric disability. He does not qualify for higher levels of SMC.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for cervical and thoracic spine disabilities are being remanded due to the need for additional VA examinations, as well as the potential need for a TDIU determination.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including coronary artery disease, PTSD, tension headaches, cervical spine degenerative joint disease and radiculopathy of the right upper extremity, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation since August 26, 2010. The Board has granted TDIU effective from that date.

The Veteran's cervical spine IVDS with degenerative arthritis is currently rated at 20 percent, but the Board has determined that a higher initial rating of 30 percent is warranted. The issues of entitlement to increased ratings for left upper extremity radiculopathy and service connection for right upper extremity atrophy as secondary to service-connected disabilities are remanded.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's cervical spine disability was incurred during service and granted service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's cervical strain was granted a rating of 30 percent, effective the date of the reduction (January 31, 2018), and his previous reduced rating is vacated.

The Veteran's petition to reopen claims for service connection for right and left foot disabilities is granted. The claims for cervical spine disability are remanded.

The Board has determined that VA examinations are necessary to determine the etiology of the appellant's claimed right arm disorder, thoracolumbar spine disorder, cervical spine disorder, and bilateral shin splints. The claims for service connection are being remanded.