Neck / cervical spine decisions — 2022

The Board has remanded the issues of rating cervical and lumbar spine disabilities due to scheduling problems for VA examinations.

The Veteran's headaches are rated at 50 percent from March 7, 2015 to October 10, 2017. From July 6, 2022, the rating is denied.,The Board found that the Veteran does not meet the criteria for a TDIU prior to October 10, 2017 due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's uterine fibroids are now rated at 50% effective January 1, 2019. The Board found that the Veteran underwent a total hysterectomy with bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy in September 2018 and is entitled to this rating.

The Board has dismissed the appeals as the RO granted the precise effective dates sought by the Veteran for right and left upper extremity cervical radiculopathy.

The Board has granted service connection for right ear hearing loss. The remaining issues on appeal are remanded due to the need for additional development and medical opinions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's neck disorder did not begin during service or within one year of separation, and is not otherwise related to an in-service injury or disease. The Board also found no evidence that the current condition was caused by a service-connected disability.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence regarding the cause of his claimed conditions. The case will be returned to VA for further development, including obtaining military police records and conducting medical examinations.

The Board denied service connection for Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV), a neck disorder, a back disorder, and right lower extremity radiculopathy as the evidence did not show these conditions were related to service.,Service connection was also denied for all four issues due to lack of chronic symptoms during or within one year after service.

The appeals for service connection on multiple conditions have been dismissed due to the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's claims for cervical radiculopathy of the upper extremities and degenerative arthritis of the spine are remanded due to lack of recent VA treatment records.,The Veteran's claim for diabetes mellitus type II is remanded as there were no recent private medical records submitted.,The Veteran's claim for degenerative arthritis of the hands, with ununited fracture ulnar styloid on the right, is remanded due to lack of recent VA treatment records.,The Veteran's claim for gout, bilateral great toe MTP joint, is remanded as there were no recent private medical records submitted.,The Veteran's claim for left ankle insertional Achilles tendinopathy with gout is remanded due to inadequate nexus opinion on the part of the VA examiner.,The Veteran's claim for hypertension is remanded as there was no current diagnosis in the October 2021 VA examination.,The Veteran's claim for nummular eczema is remanded due to an inadequate nexus opinion based on the absence of a presumptive condition list.,The Veteran's claim for prostate condition is remanded due to an inadequate nexus opinion based on the absence of a presumptive condition list.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for his service-connected cervical spine scar, finding that the evidence did not show any characteristics of disfigurement, visible or palpable tissue loss, or gross distortion or asymmetry of features.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's cervical spine disorder did not manifest during service or within one year of service and is not otherwise related to service or a service-connected disability. Therefore, the claim for service connection for a cervical spine disorder is denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for cervical and lumbar spine injuries has been granted.,The Board found that the Veteran had a history of neck and back pain during active duty, which continued after separation from service.

The Veteran's service connection claims for bilateral hearing loss, cervical strain, thoracic and lumbar strain with IVDS, sciatic radiculopathy of the left lower extremity, right carpal tunnel syndrome, and bipolar disorder with anxiety disorder have all been denied. The appeal is remanded for further development regarding service connection for tendonitis, bilateral pes planus, and total disability rating based on individual unemployability.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied, and his claim for service connection was remanded due to failure to report for VA examinations.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various orthopedic disabilities, including lumbar spine disorder, cervical spine disorder, bilateral hand disorders, elbow disorders, knee disorders, and ankle disorders. The claims are being returned to obtain addendum opinions from VA medical professionals.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for diabetic foot disease and neck disability due to incomplete development of records and inadequate opinion regarding service connection.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the etiology of his left knee, cervical spine, thoracolumbar spine (including scoliosis), and sciatica disabilities. The RO is instructed to obtain addendum opinions from appropriate clinicians.

The Board has remanded the issues of entitlement to increased ratings for low back and neck disabilities, but denied an earlier effective date for TMJD.

The Board has granted service connection for degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine, degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine, and cervicogenic headaches. However, due to new evidence submitted by the Veteran regarding his peripheral neuropathy and hand conditions, these issues are being remanded for further evaluation.