Neck / cervical spine decisions — 2022

The Board has granted service connection for headaches and denied service connection for a cervical spine disability. The Veteran's headaches are considered incurred in service, while the cervical spine disability is not considered presumptively related to service.

The Veteran's claim for payment of full VA disability compensation benefits while incarcerated is denied due to his incarceration for a felony conviction, which disqualifies him from receiving higher compensation rates.

The Board has remanded several service connection claims due to incomplete development and the need for additional medical opinions. The Veteran's hyperlipidemia, dyslipidemia (abnormal fat disposition), hypertension, glucose intolerance, anemia, left ventricular hypertrophy, fatty liver disease, splenomegaly, right groin muscle strain, RLE varicose veins, LLE varicose veins, and RLE venous insufficiency are all being remanded for further development.

The Veteran's cervical spine disability is currently rated at 30 percent from June 14, 2017 to November 21, 2019. From January 14, 2020 onwards, the rating remains denied.

The Veteran's neck disability is rated at 10 percent, which does not meet the criteria for a higher rating as of July 14, 2014.

The Board denied requests for effective dates prior to November 30, 2009, for service connection and TDIU.

The Veteran's cervical spine injuries and paraplegia are related to his service-connected back condition, and the Board has granted service connection for these conditions as secondary.

The Board has ordered remand for additional development and examination due to inconsistencies in the February 2020 VA examination report regarding flare-ups, as well as other evidence of muscle spasms. The Veteran's claims for secondary service connection for left upper extremity radiculopathy, painful motion, and headaches are also addressed.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for cervical spine disorder and bilateral shoulder disorders, finding no credible evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for erectile dysfunction was denied due to failure to report for a scheduled VA examination.,Service connection for rheumatoid arthritis, claimed as joint pain, was denied because the evidence did not establish a nexus between the condition and active service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence regarding the nature and etiology of her claimed conditions, including PTSD, cervical spondylolysis, peripheral neuralgia, myalgia, and myofascial pain syndrome.

The Veteran's cervical spine IVDS with DDD is currently rated at 20 percent prior to June 29, 2016. The Board has remanded for further development regarding ratings higher than 20 percent from June 29, 2016, through September 16, 2020, and beginning September 17, 2020.,The Veteran's CAD is currently not service connected. The Board has remanded for a VA examiner to provide an opinion on whether it was incurred in or caused by service.

The Board has granted service connection for a cervical spine disability, finding that the Veteran's symptoms began in service and have persisted since then. The condition is considered to be directly related to his military service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU are being remanded due to a duty to assist error. The Board must identify and obtain any outstanding SSA records that are not already associated with the record.

The Veteran's right hip sprain with degenerative arthritis, right knee strain status post total knee replacement (claimed as leg condition), and cervical spine DDD with spinal stenosis and IVDS are all being remanded due to the inextricability of these issues with his other pending claims for service connection.

The Veteran's increased disability ratings for his service-connected back disabilities (degenerative arthritis and intervertebral disc syndrome, as well as degenerative disc disease and facet arthritis of the cervical spine) have been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating under either the General Rating Formula or the IVDS Rating Formula.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for cervical spine condition, lumbar spine condition, and peripheral neuropathy of the left lower extremity. The remaining issues have been remanded due to a failure to provide a VA examination.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities require regular aid and attendance of another person from October 26, 2017 through March 11, 2019 due to his inability to perform daily activities.

The Board denied service connection for a back disability, neck disability, and psychiatric disorder as the evidence did not show an in-service event or injury related to these conditions.

The Board has denied service connection for a neck disability and head pain, finding that the evidence does not support a relationship between these conditions and military service. The case is remanded to obtain additional medical opinions regarding the head pain claim.