Neck / cervical spine decisions — 2023

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete records and additional development is needed, including obtaining in-service treatment records from Fort Jackson base hospital. The issues of service connection for acquired psychiatric disorders, bilateral foot conditions (excluding skin disability), and TDIU are also being remanded.

The Veteran's neck and back disabilities are granted as they are related to his active service.,The Veteran's kidney stones were not caused by his military service, but the Board finds that his urinary tract issues are secondary to his kidney stones.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for a cervical spine disorder, finding that his neck pain began during active duty training in November 2003 and is secondary to his service-connected lumbar spondylosis.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection was reinstated due to a timely filed request for extension of time, and his claims are now considered granted.

The Veteran's cervical and lumbar spine disabilities have been remanded for further development.,A separate claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 due to a surgical procedure on the cervical spine in 2013 has also been remanded.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional medical opinions and records to address service connection claims, rating determinations, and other issues. The Board will consider the evidence and make a decision on these matters.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and need for further examination. The issues are whether he had an acquired psychiatric disorder or cervical spine disability during his active duty.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for cervical strain and skin condition due to insufficient medical opinions in the January 2018 VA examination.

The Board has remanded several claims for service connection, including those for seizures, loss of bladder control (urinary tract condition), hemorrhoids, psychiatric disorder, tinnitus, residuals of left Achilles tendon tear, degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine, and stress fractures of both feet. The decision also addressed whether the Veteran's character of discharge is a bar to VA compensation benefits.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the etiology of his left knee disorder, cervical spine disorder, and scar above right eye. The issues have been returned to the RO for further evaluation.

The appeal has been dismissed as the appellant requested withdrawal of the appeal.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for lumbar and cervical spine disorders due to incomplete VA treatment records and inadequate VA examination.

The Board has granted service connection for a thoracolumbar spine disability and a cervical spine disability, finding that the Veteran's conditions are related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for various disabilities due to incomplete service treatment records. The case will be returned for further development, including obtaining missing active duty STRs and determining whether additional VA examinations or medical opinions are necessary.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.,His cervical spine disability, right upper extremity radiculopathy, and bilateral knee disabilities preclude him from performing the physical activities of his past work.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities have not precluded him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation, thus denying his claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the Veteran's claims, including obtaining private treatment records and conducting comprehensive VA examinations to assess the severity of his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and effective dates have been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating or an earlier effective date in several areas, including cervical spine, thoracolumbar spine, lower extremity radiculopathy, allergic rhinitis, and chronic sinusitis.

The Veteran's headache disability is granted a 10 percent rating effective April 24, 2023. The neck disability and upper extremity radiculopathy disabilities are each granted an additional 10 percent rating effective September 6, 2022.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for cervical spine and left shoulder disabilities due to a failure to obtain all relevant medical records, particularly physical therapy records. The claims are also being remanded for new VA examinations to determine if these conditions are related to service.