Neck / cervical spine decisions — 2022

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, loss of circulation in the bilateral arms, left ankle disability, right ankle disability, right knee disability, and neck disability due to lack of diagnosis and need for further examination.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left knee disability, left knee surgical scar, and cervical spine arthritis with spasms due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various disabilities, including an acquired psychiatric disorder, erectile dysfunction, impaired fasting glucose or diabetes, hypertension, obstructive sleep apnea, a LEFT heel disorder, lumbar radiculopathy of both lower extremities, cervical radiculopathy of the RIGHT upper extremity, ulnar neuropathy / neuritis of the LEFT hand, and RIGHT eye conditions. The AOJ is instructed to obtain relevant federal records, secure missing Army Reserve medical records, and obtain VA treatment records from San Juan VAMC.

The Board has remanded the claims for cervical spine and bilateral knee disabilities due to inadequate development, including scheduling of VA examinations. Additional examinations are needed to determine the etiology of any diagnosed disabilities.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to unclear information regarding her service during her injury on July 26, 2000. The issues must be further investigated and verified.

The Board denied an increased rating for cervical spine strain with degenerative arthritis, finding that the Veteran's disability did not warrant a higher rating prior to May 23, 2022, and in excess of 20 percent thereafter.

The Board denied service connection for a cervical spine disability, finding that the Veteran's current condition is not related to his military service and does not meet the criteria for secondary service connection due to his bilateral shoulder disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran incurred a cervical spine injury during his service, and therefore grants service connection for cervical degenerative disc disease.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss has been withdrawn and dismissed.,Service connection for left knee strain was denied as the evidence does not support an in-service injury or disease, and there is no credible link between current symptoms and service.,Service connection for a bilateral foot disability was denied due to lack of evidence of an in-service injury or disease. The Veteran's testimony about chronic pain during service did not align with contemporaneous records indicating he did not seek treatment for left knee issues.,The Veteran's claim for right shoulder disability, psychiatric disorder (PTSD and major depressive disorder), cervical spine disability, lumbar spine disability, and radiculopathy was remanded as the evidence is insufficient to determine if these conditions are related to service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for cervical spine intervertebral disc disease was denied.,The Veteran's application for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) beginning February 2, 2018, and special monthly compensation based on having one disability rated at 100 percent and additional disabilities rated at 60 percent or more were granted.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the Veteran's cervical spine disability. The appeal is now pending for further development and evaluation.

The Board has remanded the cases of low back disability, cervical spine disability, somatic disorder (pain disorder), and GERD for further development.

The Veteran withdrew their appeals for service connection for a cervical spine disability, obstructive sleep apnea (secondary to PTSD with bipolar disorder and substance abuse disorder), and rheumatoid arthritis. The appeal was also withdrawn for an increased rating in excess of 20 percent for hepatitis A and C.

The Veteran's neck condition and unspecified depressive disorder are granted service connection as they are related to his in-service back injuries.

The Veteran was found to be gainfully employed throughout the period of appeal and thus not unemployable due to service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's back, neck, and sinusitis disabilities are granted service connection. Service connection for OSA is remanded due to insufficient evidence linking it to PTSD or sinusitis. Service connection for a left arm nerve condition is also remanded.

The Board has decided that there is not enough evidence to determine if the Veteran's upper back disability, including thoracolumbar and cervical spine strain, is related to his military service. The case will be sent back for further development.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for a higher rating for bilateral hearing loss prior to April 4, 2018 and service connection for his neck disorder. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding of a more severe disability warranting an increased rating or a link between the current condition and service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for a disability rating greater than 20 percent for service-connected cervical strain with degenerative arthritis and disc disease, finding that the evidence does not support an increase in rating.

The Board has dismissed all claims of service connection due to the appellant's death.