Neck / cervical spine decisions — 2022

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining a retrospective opinion to determine the severity of the service-connected cervical spine disability from December 21, 2005, and to the present. The Veteran's earlier effective date claim for bilateral upper extremity radiculopathy is also remanded.

The Board has determined that more development is necessary for the Veteran's cervical spine disability and vertigo claims, including additional VA examinations to assess the severity of these conditions and opinions on their etiology. The issues are being remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for hernia disability, lumbar spine condition, cervical spine condition, right shoulder condition, and left shoulder condition due to inadequate medical opinions in previous VA examinations.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not preclude him from securing and following any substantially gainful employment. The Board found that the evidence does not show that he is unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for the issues of entitlement to service connection for cervical degenerative disc and joint disease, right shoulder disorder, sinusitis, and entitlement to an initial rating in excess of 20 percent disabling for left and right lower extremity radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve.

The Veteran's cervical spine and left elbow disabilities are granted service connection. The right elbow and right shoulder disabilities remain in dispute, with the Board requesting additional medical opinions to determine their etiology. The TDIU claim is also pending.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for neck disability, back disability, left-hand CTS, and right-hand CTS due to inadequate opinions in the May 2022 VA examination report. The AOJ is required to obtain additional medical evidence and provide a new opinion addressing the etiology of these conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for a low back disorder and a cervical spine disorder, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are related to her in-service symptoms and complaints of pain.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for an examination to determine if his acquired psychiatric disorder is related to in-service stressors.

The Veteran's claim for a rating of 10 percent for residuals of scar on the right lower leg from January 11, 2022, and no earlier, is granted. Service connection for PTSD and depression is also granted, but service connection for other conditions like a bilateral foot disorder, neck or cervical spine disorder, sleep apnea, and gastritis are denied.

The Veteran's left knee and cervical spine disabilities are being remanded for further development to determine their current severity.

The Board has remanded all service connection claims due to incomplete STRs and the need for additional examinations. The Veteran's claims include TBI, PTSD, insomnia, eye disorders, ear disorders, shoulder disabilities, back disability, and neck disability.

The Veteran has withdrawn her appeal for all six issues, including an increased rating for cervical spine disability, migraine headaches, and initial ratings for cervical radiculopathy of the upper extremities. The effective dates for TDIU and DEA benefits have also been withdrawn.

The Board has denied service connection for asthma and remanded the issue of service connection for a cervical spine disability due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various disabilities, including right shoulder, cervical spine, elbow, wrist, back, hip, ankle, foot, and psychiatric conditions. The decision also notes that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for a total disability based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied an extraschedular rating for the Veteran's cervical spine disability, finding that the schedular ratings adequately contemplated his disability picture.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for left wrist CTS, right wrist CTS, PTSD, tension headaches, and cervical spine disability were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a relationship between these conditions and the Veteran's active service.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's neck and low back disabilities, finding that they are related to his military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection in multiple conditions have been granted. The effective dates are not specified, and the ratings assigned are also not provided.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional medical opinions to determine if the Veteran's cervical spine and scoliosis disabilities are related to his military service, and if a right knee strain is secondary to his service-connected lumbosacral strain and degenerative disc disease.