Neck / cervical spine decisions — 2022

The Board has granted service connection for a cervical spine disability, finding that the Veteran's current condition is related to his military service.,Service connection was remanded for monomelic amyotrophy and myelopathy. The VA examiner provided negative opinions regarding both conditions.

The Veteran's cervical, lumbar, and left shoulder disorders were not related to service. The Board found that the conditions did not begin in service or within one year after service, there was no continuity of symptomatology, and the conditions are otherwise not related to service.,The Veteran's skin disorder is remanded for a VA examination to determine if it preexisted service and was aggravated by service.

The Veteran's right wrist and right elbow disabilities are found to be related to service. The neck and back disabilities, as well as the right hip disability (secondary to a back disability), are remanded for further development.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim to reopen her service connection claims for cervical spine and bilateral shoulder disabilities, effective July 14, 2015. The rating assigned is a 20% evaluation.

The Veteran's service connection claims for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, cervical spine, bilateral feet, and ankles have been granted.,Service connection has also been established for major depressive disorder.

The Veteran's TDIU was granted effective May 30, 2017, based on his service-connected PTSD and other disabilities. The Board found the earliest date it was factually ascertainable that he was unemployable due to these conditions was March 1, 2017.

The Board has dismissed all issues of entitlement to increased ratings for various conditions as the Veteran passed away before a final decision could be made.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including lumbar spine disability, left and right lower extremity frostbite residuals, acquired psychiatric disability (PTSD), prostate cancer, cervical spine disability, left shoulder disability, right shoulder disability, left elbow disability, right elbow disability, left wrist disability, right wrist disability, and gastrointestinal disabilities. The claims were denied due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Board has remanded the case due to non-compliance with previous remand directives and inextricability of issues. The TDIU claim is being deferred until all other pending claims are adjudicated.

The Veteran's appeals for higher evaluations of PTSD, service connection for a cervical spine disorder, and TDIU prior to September 4, 2018 have been dismissed due to the untimely filing of his VA Form 9.

The Veteran's degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine is granted a 30 percent rating, but no greater. The Veteran's radiculopathy issues are remanded for further evaluation.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient development and lack of substantial compliance with previous remand directives. The Veteran's neck disability is being reviewed for service connection.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for left thumb and cervical spine conditions due to inadequate VA examination reports. The Veteran is required to provide evidence of in-service motor vehicle accidents, which may affect his claims.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a cervical spine disability and hypertension, as secondary to his service-connected conditions. The issues are being returned for further development.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation from March 1, 2014. The claim for earlier effective date of SMC based on housebound status is denied as the Veteran was not permanently confined to his home prior to January 23, 2014.

The Veteran's combined service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure and maintain substantially gainful employment, but the Board is unable to determine whether this is due to his service-connected conditions or other factors. The case is remanded for further review.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a right hand/fingers disorder has been granted, making the issue moot. The cervical spine disorder issue is remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient medical opinions and need for further examination. The issues of back, neck, and tailbone disabilities are being addressed.

The Board has remanded the case for further examination and evaluation to determine if the Veteran is entitled to special monthly compensation based on aid and attendance or housebound status from July 12, 2011 to January 29, 2019, and whether TBI alone warrants such benefits.

The Veteran's Barrett's esophagus was granted service connection as secondary to his service-connected reactive arthritis (previously diagnosed as Reiter's syndrome) of the left ankle. The other issues were remanded for further development.