Neck / cervical spine decisions — 2022

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection and increased rating for his neck and back disabilities require additional development due to outstanding records and need for updated medical opinions.

The Veteran has withdrawn all his appeals regarding the disability ratings and service connection for various conditions. The Board dismissed these claims as per the appellant's request.

The Board has granted service connection for a cervical spine disability and cervical radiculopathy of the left upper extremity, finding that the evidence is in equipoise as to whether these conditions are related to the Veteran's military service.

The Veteran's claim for TDIU from August 13, 2013 to February 24, 2017 is granted. The issues of service connection for GERD, bilateral upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, a neck disability, and a right shoulder disability, as well as the request to reopen the claim of service connection for an eating disorder, are remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for neck disability, right upper extremity radiculopathy, left upper extremity radiculopathy, and lower back disability. The claims were reopened due to new evidence received since the January 2008 rating decision.

The Board has granted service connection for a lumbar spine disability, cervical spine disability, and respiratory disability (COPD) based on the Veteran's credible reports of in-service injuries and subsequent symptoms.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for lumbar spine and cervical disabilities due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a cervical spine disability, finding that there is no evidence of an in-service injury or disease and that any current condition is not related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection due to deficiencies in the examination reports, particularly regarding the severity of his lumbar spine disability and associated bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy. The issues have also been expanded to include evaluations for any related cervical spine disability.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's lower back and neck disabilities, which are aggravated by her service-connected PTSD due to MST.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's back, neck, left ankle, and right ankle disabilities are service-connected. However, due to a lack of an examination for his right shoulder disability, this issue is remanded.

The Veteran's neck disability, bilateral upper extremity radiculopathy, and tinnitus have all been granted service connection. The neck disability is linked to an in-service injury during active duty for training.

The Board has found that service connection for a right eye condition, including retinal detachment and cataract resulting from surgical treatment, is not established. The Veteran's PTSD claim was remanded due to insufficient evidence linking the diagnosis to an in-service stressor.

The Veteran was granted a TDIU for the period from September 27, 2019 to July 20, 2020 due to his service-connected disabilities.,From July 21, 2020 onwards, the Veteran's combined rating of 70% allowed him to receive a TDIU without needing to prove unemployability.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for further development and examination, including for VA shoulder and cervical spine evaluations. The Veteran's right ear hearing loss claim is denied as there is no current diagnosis of a right ear hearing loss disability. His left elbow disability claim is also remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for arthritis of the cervical spine, finding a medical nexus between an in-service fall from a helicopter and current neck disability.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened, but the Board is remanding them for additional development to obtain medical opinions and verify stressors.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for neck disability, left knee disability, gastrointestinal disability (including acid reflux), headache disability, and neurological disabilities of both upper extremities due to outstanding VA treatment records and incomplete medical opinions.

The Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) was denied as the evidence did not show that his service-connected disabilities prevented him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment.