Neck / cervical spine decisions — 2022

The Board denied service connection for a cervical spine disability, finding that the Veteran's current condition is not related to his military service.

The Board has determined that there has not been substantial compliance with the previous remand directives regarding the issues on appeal, specifically verifying the Veteran's periods of active duty, active duty for training (ACTDUTRA), and active duty for special work (ADSW). The case is therefore being remanded to obtain these verifications.

The Board has granted service connection for a cervical spine disability and has remanded the issues of bilateral upper and lower extremity tendonitis, bilateral knee disorder, right hip disorder, and prostate cancer residuals.

The Veteran's cervical spine and right wrist disorders are remanded for additional medical opinions to determine if they were incurred in or caused by service.

The Board has granted the reopening of the claim for service connection for a back disability, but has remanded the issues regarding neck and left knee disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and right upper extremity cubital tunnel syndrome, but denied service connection for a neck disability.

The Veteran's tinnitus was granted service connection. The remaining orthopedic issues are remanded for further development.

The Board has denied service connection for low back/spine and cervical spine disabilities, finding no evidence of in-service injury or illness related to these conditions. The Veteran's current diagnoses are not linked to his military service.

The Board has decided to remand the case for a new VA examination to determine the cause of the Veteran's cervical spine disorder, including whether it is related to active service or a service-connected disability.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for cervical spine disability, bilateral knee disabilities, and COPD due to herbicide exposure. The claims are not granted as there is no evidence of a service connection.

The Veteran's cervical spine disability is rated at 20 percent, and the claims for left shoulder, hand, hip, leg, and foot disabilities are granted as secondary to his service-connected cervical disability. The claim for urinary incontinence is also granted.

The Veteran's neck disability is being remanded for further development, including a new VA examination to assess the severity of his functional impairment and whether it is equivalent to ankylosis.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's cervical spine disability is at least as likely as not incurred during service, and therefore grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has dismissed the appeal for service connection for a cervical spine disability, sleep disturbance, and a dental condition. The remaining issues of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hip disability, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus have been remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected degenerative arthritis of the hands, lumbar spine degenerative disc disease (DDD), left lower extremity radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve, and cervical spine spondylosis (neck disability) have been granted higher initial ratings as of January 1, 2012.

The Board determined that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including lumbar strain with degenerative arthritis and disc disease, right lower extremity sciatic radiculopathy, right lower extremity femoral radiculopathy, left lower extremity sciatic radiculopathy, left lower extremity femoral radiculopathy, left hip limitation of flexion, left hip limitation of adduction, left hip limitation of extension, and cervical strain with spondylosis, are sufficient to grant a 100 percent combined rating. However, the Board found that the Veteran is not entitled to TDIU because his disabilities do not prevent him from maintaining any substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for congenital cervical spinal canal stenosis has been withdrawn, resulting in the dismissal of this case.

The Board has remanded the claims for initial ratings and TDIU due to inadequate discussion of additional limitations during flare-ups in the October 2018 VA examination reports. The Veteran's low back and cervical spine disabilities are being remanded for new medical examinations and opinions.

The Veteran's cervical spine disability was previously rated at 30 percent prior to April 8, 2013. The Board found that the evidence did not support an increased rating for this period due to lack of unfavorable ankylosis.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection of various hip, shoulder, knee, and spine disabilities are remanded due to insufficient evidence regarding the onset and continuity of symptoms during or following service.