Neck / cervical spine decisions — 2023

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him in need of regular aid and attendance, warranting SMC based on the need for aid and attendance.

The Board has decided to remand several issues related to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including left ankle sprain, right and left knee disabilities, lumbar and cervical spine disabilities, and hypertension. The Veteran is required to provide VA with his private treatment records for these conditions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for NASH as due to a service-connected disability, increased rating for his thoracic spine disability, and earlier effective date for his cervical spine disability rating.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for left foot pes planus, lumbar spine condition, cervical spine condition (secondary to a lumbar spine condition), great left toe disability, and left foot disability (other than pes planus) due to insufficient medical opinions addressing the etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not render him unemployable prior to February 11, 2014. The Board denied entitlement to TDIU on a schedular and extraschedular basis.

The Board has granted service connection for cervical spine DDD status-post C6-C7 fusion and chronic headaches, both of which are deemed to be directly related to the Veteran's active duty service.

The Board denied service connection for cervical spine degenerative arthritis and dismissed the appeal for an increased disability rating for chronic gastroenteritis, gastritis, and ulcers from December 19, 2014 due to a full grant of benefits in November 2018.

The Veteran's claim for bilateral hearing loss is denied as there is no evidence of a current disability.,The Veteran's stomach condition is remanded to obtain an opinion regarding direct service connection and secondary service connection.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for low back and neck disabilities, as well as secondary service connection for numbness in his lower and upper extremities. The remand requires additional development to consider the Veteran's lay statements and medical evidence regarding his symptoms.

The Board has remanded several issues, including service connection claims and increased evaluation requests for various disabilities. The Veteran's appeal remains pending.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's lumbar and cervical spine arthritis, as well as his right and left knee strains, are at least as likely as not related to service. Service connection is granted for these conditions.

The Veteran's cervical spine disorder is granted service connection. The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss case is remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for cervical strain, residuals of a head injury, and bilateral hearing loss due to procedural deficiencies. The Veteran's tinnitus and degenerative joint disease of the knees have been granted service connection.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and TDIU due to incomplete development, including a lack of VA examinations. The Veteran is required to provide updated medical records and must be scheduled for further VA examinations.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II and bilateral upper and lower extremities peripheral neuropathy as secondary to diabetes mellitus, type II. The Veteran's current disabilities were not incurred in or aggravated by his active service.,Service connection was also denied for a cervical spine disability due to lack of continuity of symptomatology since service separation.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of a cervical spine disability and right knee arthritis due to incomplete development. The VA providers are requested to provide addendum opinions on the etiology of these disabilities, considering all pertinent medical and lay evidence.

The Veteran's appeals for higher ratings on his service-connected left shoulder injury, cervical spine disability, and radiculopathy of the left upper extremity were denied. The current ratings are 20 percent for each condition.

The reduction from a 60% to a 20% disability rating for service-connected degenerative changes of the midthoracic spine with compression fracture at T8 and 9 with residual demonstrable deformity and myofascial pain syndrome of the cervical and thoracic spine is granted. The severance of service connection for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is also granted.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a left eye disability, finding that his pre-existing condition did not undergo an increase in disability beyond its natural progression during active duty. The claims for secondary service connection for lumbar and cervical spine disabilities as related to bilateral pes planus, and for PTSD and headache disorder are remanded.

The Board has determined that the VA did not substantially comply with its remand directives and requires further development for the Veteran's claims of service connection for various orthopedic disabilities, including bilateral eye disorders.