Neck / cervical spine decisions — 2022

The Veteran's claims have been dismissed due to his death. The Board has no jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of these appeals.

The Board has decided to remand the cases for further development and examination due to incomplete service records and inconsistencies in verifying an inservice fall. The Veteran's statements are considered credible, and a VA examination is needed to determine if his current back and neck disabilities are related to service.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is granted effective May 1, 2015. The Board has also remanded the issues of service connection for cervical spine disability and rating higher than 40 percent for nerve impairment associated with right shoulder impingement syndrome.

The Veteran withdrew his claims for an increased rating for bilateral hearing loss, service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome and a right knee disorder during the July 2021 Board hearing.,The remaining issues of service connection for back disorder, left leg disorder, cervical disorder (to include as secondary to a back disorder), acquired psychiatric disorder are being remanded.

The Board has remanded the cases due to insufficient evidence regarding the etiology of the Veteran's hypertension, lower back disability, neck disability, and right shoulder disability. The claims are being returned for further development.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for low back, neck, brain, left arm, and left leg disabilities due to service connection. The issues are related to whether these conditions had their onset during or were otherwise caused by his military service.

The Board has granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities, as his combination of disabilities prevents him from securing or following substantially gainful employment.

The Board has determined that the evidence is insufficient to decide the cervical spine and lumbar spine disability claims on appeal, and new medical opinions are needed.

The Veteran's neck disability was granted a 30% rating beginning April 6, 2018. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating prior to this date.

The Veteran's application to reopen the claim of service connection for a cervical spine disorder is granted. The effective dates for the grants of service connection for left and right knee disabilities are set at June 2, 2017. A rating in excess of 60 percent for a right knee disability is denied. Increased ratings for left knee disability prior to total knee replacement surgery are also denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a neck disability is granted, and the case is remanded to determine the etiology of his current cervical spine disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including her cervical spine and lumbar spine conditions, prevent her from engaging in substantially gainful employment that is consistent with her education and occupational experience.

The Veteran's left inguinal herniorrhaphy scar is granted an initial 10 percent rating.,Other service connection claims are remanded for further development.

The Board has determined that the claims for service connection of various disabilities, including right shoulder, left leg, and neck conditions, need further development due to inadequate previous medical opinions. The Veteran's reports about his symptoms will be considered in determining the etiology of these conditions.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for neck, right knee, and left knee disabilities due to insufficient medical opinions addressing whether these conditions are related to service.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for various disabilities, including PTSD, an eye disability, hearing loss in the right ear, cervical spine disability, bilateral knee disability, left foot disability, radiculopathy of the right lower extremity, radiculopathy of the bilateral upper extremities, and bilateral shoulder disabilities. The remand requires additional development to address the claims.

The Veteran's request to increase his disability rating for cervical spine C5-6 degenerative disc disease with degenerative joint disease has been withdrawn. The Board has also remanded the claims of service connection for left and right shoulder conditions.

The Veteran's PTSD and major depressive disorder are granted as they are at least as likely as not related to service.,Right ear hearing loss is denied as there is no current diagnosis of the condition.

The Board has remanded the cases for further examination and opinion regarding service connection, rating of low back disability, and TDIU due to inadequate previous examinations.

The Board has granted service connection for cervical herniated disc, spinal stenosis, and cervicalgia as well as left and right lower extremity radiculopathy secondary to service-connected lumbar spine disability.