Neck / cervical spine decisions — 2022

The Veteran's claim for service connection for migraine headaches has been reopened and granted.,Service connection is established for cervical spine multilevel degenerative disc disease, left upper extremity radiculopathy, right upper extremity radiculopathy, left shoulder impingement syndrome, rotator cuff tear bursitis, glenohumeral joint osteoarthritis, and right elbow lateral epicondylitis with degenerative joint disease and bursitis.

The Veteran's current neck and upper back disabilities are related to his in-service symptoms, which have persisted since service. Service connection is granted.

The Veteran's low back disability was rated at 10% from September 28, 2015, through January 9, 2018. Since January 10, 2018, a higher rating of 40% is granted for the degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine with intervertebral disc syndrome (IVDS). The cervical spine disability remains rated at 10%. Service connection for a left pelvic condition was remanded.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for cervical spine and left hip disabilities are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations to assess current disability levels.

The Board has denied service connection for cervical spine, left hip, right hip, right foot, and left foot disabilities. Service connection was granted for sleep apnea.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude her from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation, consistent with her education, skills, training, and work history.

The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, finding that it is related to the Veteran's service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran's plexopathy and axillary neuropathy of the left upper extremity is granted a 40 percent rating, effective from January 29, 2016. The cervical spine disability remains at 30 percent.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for various conditions due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology and relationship to service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, right lower extremity sciatic radulopathy, left lower extremity sciatic radulopathy, and cervical spine were granted effective February 4, 1999.,An earlier effective date is not warranted as all claims are based on direct service connection.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings have been withdrawn. The Board has remanded the remaining issues due to need for additional evidence and examinations.

The Board has granted service connection for a neck disability, including degenerative stenosis of the cervical spine. The evidence is approximately evenly balanced as to whether the Veteran's current condition had its onset during service.

The Board has granted the Veteran's petitions to reopen his claims for service connection for lumbar and cervical spine disabilities, but denied these claims on the merits. The claim of increased rating for nephrolithiasis (kidney stones) is remanded.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and cervical spine disorder have been denied as there is no evidence of a current disability during the appeal period.,There is insufficient evidence to establish service connection for these conditions.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for accrued benefits based on pending claims for service connection for lumbar spine, cervical spine, bilateral upper extremity, and heart disabilities as no substantive appeal was filed.

The Board has granted service connection for tension headaches, cervical spine spondylosis, facet syndrome and cervical myofascial pain syndrome, right shoulder osteoarthritis and labral tear status post arthroscopic repair, thoracolumbar strain, and right knee tendonitis/tendinosis and patellofemoral pain syndrome. The Board found the evidence to be in equipoise as to whether these conditions arose during service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection and TDIU prior to September 3, 2013 are inextricably intertwined with his current claims. Therefore, these issues have been remanded for further development.

The Board has denied the reopening of claims for service connection for cervical spine condition, low back condition, respiratory condition, heat injury, and rhabdomyolysis due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is currently rated as noncompensable. The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for low back and cervical spine disorders due to insufficient medical opinions addressing potential in-service causation.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for neck, back, right knee, left knee, right ankle, and left ankle disabilities due to additional development needed.