Neck / cervical spine decisions — 2022

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete service treatment records, and further efforts are needed to obtain these records or a formal finding of unavailability must be made.

The Veteran's hypertension and cervical spine disability are being remanded for further examination to determine their etiology, with consideration of service connection.

The Board denied service connection for neck disability, chronic fatigue syndrome, and fibromyalgia as these conditions were not incurred or aggravated by active duty service.

The Veteran's service connection claims for a cervical spine disability and left leg radiculopathy, including as secondary to his service-connected lumbar spine disability, were denied.,A rating in excess of 10 percent for congenital spinal anomaly spondylosis (claimed as lumbar spine disability) was also denied.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection and increased ratings have been withdrawn, resulting in the dismissal of all remaining issues.

The Veteran's claim for a rating greater than 70 percent for PTSD is denied. The Board has also remanded the claims of service connection for neck and right knee disabilities, as these issues are related to his service-connected thoracolumbar spine disability and related radiculopathy.

The Board has remanded the cases of the Veteran's bilateral hand disability and cervical spine disability for further development, including obtaining addendum opinions from a VA examiner.

The Veteran's hypertension is granted as presumed due to herbicide agent exposure. The cervical and thoracic spine disorders are remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to outstanding VA and Social Security Administration records, as well as for medical opinions on various issues.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is granted as service connected. The issues of service connection for other conditions are also granted.

The Board has determined that another remand is necessary to obtain a medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's current spinal disabilities, including lumbosacral, dorsal/thoracic, and cervical spine issues. The claim will be returned for further development.

The Board has granted the reopening of the previously denied claims for service connection for arthritis of the left shoulder, right shoulder, and cervical spine disorder. The cases are now remanded for further development.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for rotator cuff tendonitis, right shoulder and neck disability (claimed as back of neck condition, and right side of neck condition) due to outstanding VA treatment records not being obtained.

The Board has withdrawn the appeal of service connection for a prostate disability and has remanded several other issues related to various disabilities, including cervical spine, lumbar spine, shoulder, hip, knee, ankle, foot, upper extremity, lower extremity neuropathies, and an acquired psychiatric disorder. The Veteran's claims are now pending again with the RO.

The Board denied service connection for cervical spine and back disabilities, finding that the Veteran's conditions are not related to his military service or caused by his service-connected bilateral knee and/or bilateral foot disabilities.,Service connection was also denied for a respiratory disability due to lack of evidence showing current disability during the appeal period.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's cervical degenerative arthritis, spondylolisthesis, and herniated disc are due to an in-service motor vehicle accident. As such, service connection for these conditions is granted.

For the period prior to September 22, 2020, service connection for left lower extremity radiculopathy was granted. For the period from November 18, 2020, a 30 percent rating for cervical strain with degenerative arthritis of the spine and a 40 percent rating for degenerative arthritis of the thoracic spine were granted.,For the period prior to September 22, 2020, entitlement to TDIU was granted.

The Veteran's service-connected posttraumatic headaches and arthritis of the cervical spine, thoracolumbar spine, and left ankle rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation since his retirement in October 2009.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his back, knees, and neck conditions, have rendered him unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment. The Board has granted TDIU from November 5, 2015.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him so helpless as to be in need of regular aid and attendance, leading to the grant of special monthly compensation (SMC) at the L-rate.