Neck / cervical spine decisions — 2022

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete records and unclear duty status. The Veteran is also required to undergo VA examinations for sleep apnea and bilateral hand/wrist disabilities.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for back, neck, endometriosis, and hysterectomy disorders due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology. The Veteran is seeking service connection for these conditions based on in-service events or exposure.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been remanded due to the need for further investigation regarding his exposure to herbicides and proximity to base perimeters. The cervical spine disorder claim is denied as new evidence does not relate it to service, diabetes mellitus type II and heart disorder are remanded due to potential herbicide exposure.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and examination to determine if there is a relationship between the Veteran's current disabilities and his military service.

The Board has determined that there was not substantial compliance with its previous remand instructions and the claims are being returned for further development.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, to include depression as secondary to his service-connected disabilities, has been granted. The Veteran is also granted a rating in excess of 20 percent prior to July 25, 2017 and in excess of 30 percent from July 25, 2017 and thereafter for a cervical spine disability.

The Board has remanded the claims for right hip, left hip, knee, foot, and neck disabilities as well as migraine headaches to obtain additional opinions from VA physicians. The Veteran's service connection claims are currently pending.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for sleep disturbance, bilateral hearing loss, bilateral flat feet, left and right shin splints, left and right shoulder disabilities, and migraine headaches have been withdrawn.,The Veteran's appeals for reopening of service connection for a neck disability, left knee disability, and right knee disability have been withdrawn.

The Veteran's cervical spine strain disability is rated at a 30 percent rating since August 1, 2011.,The Veteran's upper respiratory infection (bronchitis) does not meet the criteria for a compensable initial disability rating.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for left knee disability and cervical spine condition due to inadequate VA examinations. The cases are being returned for further examination.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disability has been reopened and will be reconsidered on the merits.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for right upper extremity radiculopathy, cervical spine disability, and sleep disorder have been remanded due to insufficient evidence addressing their etiology.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disability has been reopened and will be reconsidered on the merits.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings have been dismissed as he has withdrawn his appeal in a communication received in April 2022.

The Board has denied service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome and headache disability due to lack of a diagnosed condition.,Service connection is also denied for cervical spine, lumbosacral spine, left wrist, and sleep disorder disabilities as the evidence does not support their direct association with service.

The Board has remanded the cases due to failure to schedule a DRO hearing as requested by the Veteran. The cases are now pending for further action.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions do not meet the criteria for specially adapted housing or financial assistance for purchasing an automobile and adaptive equipment. The Board finds that his disabilities, while significant, do not qualify him for these benefits based on the specific requirements outlined in VA regulations.

The Veteran's cervical spine degenerative disc disease is not shown as chronic in service and did not manifest to a compensable degree within the applicable presumptive period, continuity of symptomatology is not established, and the disability is not otherwise etiologically related to an in-service injury or disease.,The Veteran's left shoulder disorder, including left rotator cuff tear with traumatic arthritis, bone spur on rotator cuff, and nerve impingement syndrome, is not shown as chronic in service and did not manifest to a compensable degree within the applicable presumptive period, continuity of symptomatology is not established, and the disability is not otherwise etiologically related to an in-service injury or disease.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection of right knee, left knee, and prostate conditions have been dismissed. The appeals seeking service connection for cervical spine, low back, and bilateral hearing loss conditions are remanded.

The Board denied service connection for fibromyalgia, right upper extremity disability, and cervical spine disability due to lack of evidence supporting these conditions.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection have been withdrawn, and the claims are dismissed.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for cervical spine disability, right upper extremity radiculopathy, and left upper extremity radiculopathy due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service or a service-connected condition.