Neck / cervical spine decisions — 2023

The Board has determined that the Veteran's April 2019 VA Form 10182 constitutes a valid and timely legacy appeal for service connection for neck, back, and bilateral knee disabilities. The case is REMANDED to issue a Statement of the Case on these issues.

The Board has remanded the claims for a lumbar spine disability, cervical spine disorder, bilateral knee disorder, and bilateral hip disorder due to inadequate examination reports and incomplete medical opinions. The Veteran is to be provided with new VA examinations and addendum opinions regarding his service connection claims.

The Board denied service connection for a low back disability, finding that the Veteran did not meet the criteria as there was no evidence of a current disability related to an in-service injury or disease. The Board also denied service connection for a cervical spine disability, concluding that the Veteran's current condition is not causally related to his military service.,The Board determined that the Veteran's low back and cervical spine disabilities are not directly linked to his active duty service.

The Veteran's cervical spine disability and LUE radiculopathy were remanded for further development. The effective date of the TDIU rating was granted as February 11, 2014.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for various conditions have been remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and records.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals on all issues, including those for increased ratings and service connection. The Board dismissed the appeal due to the Veteran's withdrawal.

The Veteran's cervical spine disorder, diagnosed as degenerative disc disease, is related to an in-service injury. The Veteran's dizziness is the result of his now service-connected cervical spine disability.,Service connection for bilateral foot disorders and bilateral ankle disorders are remanded.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's neck, low back, left shoulder, right shoulder, and right hip disabilities are not service-connected as they did not begin during active service or are otherwise unrelated to service.,The Veteran's TMJ disorder was also denied as it is not service-connected.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the Veteran's cervical spine disability and its relationship to service. The case will be returned for further development, including obtaining additional medical records and providing an opinion on the etiology of the Veteran's current neck condition.

The Veteran's insomnia is associated with her service-connected major depressive disorder, and thus cannot be separately granted.,The Veteran has symptoms consistent with a gastrointestinal disorder but no current diagnosis of such. A new VA medical opinion is needed to determine the nature and etiology of her claimed gastrointestinal disorder.

The Board has remanded the claims for additional development due to evidence obtained after the previous remand. The Veteran's service connection claims are being reviewed again.

The Board denied service connection for cervical spine disorder, right upper extremity radiculopathy, and left upper extremity radiculopathy. The evidence did not support a finding of direct service connection due to lack of in-service diagnosis or treatment.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to inadequate VA examinations for his musculoskeletal disabilities and hearing loss. The claims are also inextricably intertwined with the issue of service connection for left ear hearing loss.

The Veteran's service connection claims for left and right lower extremity radiculopathy, cervical spine disability, and lumbar spine disability have been granted effective March 30, 2011. The claim for left upper extremity radiculopathy was denied as it is secondary to the cervical spine disability.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a neck disability was denied in an August 2018 rating decision. The Board has determined that the appeal should be remanded due to procedural errors and requires the issuance of a Statement of the Case (SOC).

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not prevent him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation prior to January 7, 2022.

The Board has remanded the claim for a new VA examination to address the Veteran's neck disability, as the previous opinions did not adequately consider his lay statements regarding the onset and continuity of symptoms since service.

The Board has denied service connection for right ear hearing loss. The claims of service connection for asthma and cervical spine disability have been remanded.

The Board has denied service connection for the claimed conditions as they are not shown to be causally or etiologically related any disease or injury during a period of active duty, active duty for training (ACDUTRA), or inactive duty for training (INACDUTRA).

The Veteran's cervical spine disability, including sprain, degenerative disc disease, and intervertebral disc syndrome, is rated at 20 percent from February 25, 2020. Separate ratings of 20 percent are granted for left and right upper extremity radiculopathy associated with the cervical spine disability, both effective February 17, 2022.