Neck / cervical spine decisions — 2023

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to uncertainty regarding her employment status in 2016 and 2017. The Board requests additional information from the employer Binder & Binder.

The Veteran's service connection claims for various conditions were denied as new and material evidence was not received to reopen the claims, and the current diagnoses are not related to his active duty service.

The Board denied service connection for various spinal, hip, and knee conditions, finding that the current disabilities were not incurred or aggravated by service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's preexisting left knee surgery and surgical scar did not become aggravated by service, and therefore, cannot be granted service connection for this condition.,There is no persuasive evidence to support a finding that any of the Veteran's disabilities (left knee disability, cervical spine disability, or lumbar spine disability) had their onset during active service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left shoulder osteoarthritis, cervical segmental dysfunction (neck pain), and compression fracture of L1. The evidence does not support a finding that these conditions are related to service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a lumbar spine disorder, bilateral knee disorder, and cervical spine disorder due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development, including obtaining National Guard treatment records and VA medical opinions regarding his claimed disabilities. The claims are not currently decided.

The Veteran's cervical spine IVDS is rated at 30 percent for the entire appeal period.,A 20 percent rating for right upper extremity radiculopathy effective May 20, 2021, was granted.

The Board has granted service connection for thoracolumbar and cervical spine disabilities with radiculopathy of the upper and lower extremities, attributing these conditions to a motor vehicle accident in service.

The Veteran's essential tremors are granted as service-connected due to being related to his TBI. The ratings for left and right knee disabilities remain at 10 percent, with no higher rating allowed.

The Board denied service connection for right arm, lumbar spine, cervical spine, feet, and ankle disabilities as the evidence did not establish a nexus between these conditions and service. The Veteran's symptoms were found to be more likely related to his 1984 separation from service or an underlying condition (gout) that began after service.

The Veteran's cervical strain, left and right upper extremity neuropathy (likely radiculopathy), and chronic myofascial pian syndrome of the cervical spine have been granted initial ratings. The issue of service connection for retrolisthesis of the cervical spine is being remanded.

The Veteran's cervical spine disability, delusional disorder, and anxiety disorder are not service-connected. The issues of rating for depressive disorder and TDIU are remanded.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current neck disability, diagnosed as cervical spine degenerative joint disease with spondylosis, status-post laminectomy, is service-connected. The decision is based on a finding of continuity of symptomatology since service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to inadequate medical opinions and the need for additional VA examinations.

Service connection is granted for headaches, hypertension, bilateral hearing loss disability, and thoracolumbar spine disorder.,Service connection is denied for hypercholesterolemia (high cholesterol), chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), RIGHT ankle disorder, LEFT knee disorder, RIGHT knee disorder, radiculopathy of the RIGHT lower extremity, radiculopathy of the LEFT lower extremity, and cervical spine / neck disorder.,Service connection is remanded for radiculopathy of the RIGHT upper extremity and radiculopathy of the LEFT upper extremity.

The Board has remanded the claims for neck, shoulder, and sciatic disabilities due to an inadequate August 2021 VA opinion. The Veteran's testimony regarding her belief that in-service duties caused her current problems is considered.

The Veteran's right shoulder, left shoulder, right knee, and left knee disabilities are denied as service connection is not warranted.,The Veteran's sleep apnea is denied as it is not proximately due to or aggravated by his PTSD.,The Veteran's bilateral blepharitis and early cataracts are denied as they are not etiologically related to service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to new and material evidence having been received, as well as for additional examinations to determine the etiology of his disabilities. The claims are now pending before VA again.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence regarding his cervical spine and right shoulder conditions. The AOJ must attempt to obtain copies of treatment records from Antelope Valley Clinic in Palmdale, California, that have been detailed by the Veteran's representative, as well as any heretofore unavailable treatment records from VA medical centers.