Neck / cervical spine decisions — 2022

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's back, left and right lower extremity sciatic radiculopathy, neck, and right knee disabilities. These conditions are considered direct service connections as they were incurred during active duty.

The Board denied service connection for degenerative arthritis of the spine with spinal stenosis and a cervical spine disability, finding that the Veteran's back disability is congenital and not aggravated by service. Service connection was also denied for a thyroid disorder due to lack of evidence showing an in-service injury or disease.

The Board denied service connection for a cervical spine condition, finding that the Veteran's condition did not manifest during or within one year of his active duty service and is not otherwise etiologically related to service.

The Board has granted service connection for a neck condition and familial hand tremor. The issue of an earlier effective date for total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) is remanded.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to insufficient evidence regarding the service connection for an upper back disorder and a cervical spine disorder.

The Board has remanded the cases due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's neck disability and bilateral upper extremity radiculopathy. The claims are being returned for further evaluation.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment for the period from December 26, 2007, to January 4, 2010. A total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities (TDIU) is granted on an extraschedular basis.

The Board has granted service connection for cervical spine, cervical radiculopathy, and right shoulder disabilities. The TDIU claim is remanded as it impacts the overall combined rating.

The Veteran's right and left knee service connection issues have been withdrawn.,Service connection for cervical spine, bilateral upper extremity nerve disorders, right ear hearing loss, and left ear hearing loss has been granted. Service connection for cervical spine arthritis, right and left upper extremity radiculopathy, and right foot pes planus has been denied due to pre-existing conditions not aggravated by service.,The Veteran's left foot pes planus was found to have existed prior to service and did not worsen during service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for IVDS, left ankle cyst, and TBI were all granted. However, the claim for carpal tunnel syndrome of the right upper extremity was denied, as was the claim for degenerative arthritis of the back.,A remand has been ordered for a cervical radiculopathy claim.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection and compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 are remanded due to pre-decisional errors in previous decisions.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for service connection for PTSD, right lower extremity radiculopathy, left lower extremity radiculopathy, a cervical spine disability, and a lower extremity circulatory disability.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection, increased rating, and TDIU due to his neck disability and back disability. The issues include a neck disability related to a motor vehicle accident during service, and a back disability with multiple surgeries.

The Veteran's cervical spine disability is denied as there is no evidence of a nexus between the condition and service.,The Veteran's dental disability claim for treatment purposes is dismissed due to her total disability rating based on individual unemployability.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left and right upper extremity peripheral nerve disabilities, finding that there is no evidence to support a nexus between these conditions and his military service.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development regarding whether the Veteran's thoracolumbar and cervical spine disorders existed prior to service and were aggravated by service.

The Board has found that further remand is necessary to obtain the curriculum vitae of the VA examiners who provided opinions in April 2020, August 2020 (two separate exams), September 2020, November 2020, and May 2021. The Veteran and his attorney will be notified if these documents cannot be obtained.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU were denied, as the evidence did not meet the criteria for higher disability ratings.,SMC based on need for regular aid and attendance of another person was also denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of a cervical spine disorder, finding that there was no evidence to support an in-service onset or relationship between current symptoms and military service.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for a cervical spine disability, finding that there is at least equipoise evidence in favor of the claim and resolving all doubts in the Veteran's favor. The Board determined that the Veteran's current cervical spine disability is related to his military service, specifically an injury during ejection seat training.