Neck / cervical spine decisions — 2022

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him so helpless as to require the regular aid and attendance of another person to perform personal care functions of everyday living or to protect himself from hazards and dangerous incidents.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claims of service connection for degenerative joint disease, cervical spine; degenerative joint disease, lumbar spine; right knee condition; and left knee condition are remanded due to missing records and a duty to assist error.

The Veteran's claim for TDIU is being remanded due to the receipt of new evidence that may affect the decision.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for lumbar and cervical spine disabilities due to inadequate VA examination opinions regarding the onset of these conditions during or within one year after service.

The Veteran's cervical spine disability is currently rated at 30 percent, and the Board has determined that a higher rating is not warranted based on current evidence.

The Veteran's appeal for increased disability ratings and TDIU is being remanded due to the need for additional examinations to assess his current symptoms and conditions.

The Veteran's bilateral lower extremity foot drop and cervical spine injury are denied as not caused by VA care, nor due to an unforeseeable event.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's in-service incident and its impact on his current cervical spine disorder.

The Veteran's cervical spine spondylosis and right and left upper extremity radiculopathy were rated based on their respective conditions, with different disability ratings granted at various times. The decision does not specify an effective date for any rating changes.

The Veteran's claim for service connection has been reopened and is granted. The Board finds new and material evidence to support the reopening of his claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, gastrointestinal condition (GERD), cervical spine disability, skin disability, sinusitis, rhinitis, headache disability, and sleep disorder.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current pulmonary disability and has not had one at any time during the pendency of the claim or recent to the filing of the claim. The Veteran's hemorrhoids are rated under Diagnostic Code 7336, for external or internal hemorrhoids. An additional VA examination is required to assess the current severity of his hemorrhoids. For the gastrointestinal (GI) disability, gastritis, an additional VA examination is required to determine whether the Veteran has a chronic gastrointestinal disability that had its onset during service. For the right knee and cervical spine disabilities, an additional VA examination is required to address whether the Veteran's conditions had their onset during service or are otherwise related to his active duty service. For the right shoulder disability, an additional VA examination is required to address whether the pre-existing right shoulder strain was aggravated by the Veteran's active duty service.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's claims for service connection of lumbar spine disorder, cervical spine disorder, and right lower extremity radiculopathy due to his death.

The Veteran's claims for migraine headaches, lumbar spine disability, neurological disabilities of the lower extremities, and left shoulder disability have all been denied. The Board found that there is no evidence to support a link between these conditions and service.,Specifically, the Veteran's migraine headaches are not considered to be related to an in-service injury or disease, as his service records do not show any complaints of or treatment for such issues.

The Board denied service connection for neck and back disabilities, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are not related to his military service or any service-connected disability.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for cervical and lumbar spine disabilities due to a lack of consideration of continuity of symptoms during service.

The Board has granted service connection for a low back disability and remanded the issues of service connection for neck disability and an increased rating for left knee disability.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's cervical spine degenerative disc disease with herniation and nerve damage of the right upper extremity, finding that it is at least as likely as not related to his active service.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions have rendered her unable to work for the period from September 24, 2009 through January 10, 2010. The VA has ordered additional examinations and remanded several issues due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for cervical spine disability, left hand fingers other than thumb, and right hand fingers due to inadequate examination findings. The Veteran's contentions regarding repetitive motion injuries in service are considered.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings have been dismissed. The Board has not made a decision on the remaining issues due to their complexity.