Neck / cervical spine decisions — 2023

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeals for hypertension, special monthly compensation based on aid and attendance/housebound status, service connection for a neck disability (also claimed as neck strain), and service connection for arthritis, to include osteoporosis (cervical spine) due to improper docketing in the AMA system.

The Board has found that new evidence was submitted and the claims are being remanded for further review.

The Board denied service connection for lumbar and cervical spine disorders, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are not related to her military service.

The Board denied service connection for back degenerative arthritis, neck disability, right knee degenerative arthritis, and headaches as the evidence did not establish a nexus to service.,Service treatment records showed isolated incidents of injury in service but no chronic disabilities related to these conditions.

The Veteran's petitions to reopen claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, neck disability, and back disability have been granted. The cases are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings of the lumbosacral spine and tinnitus have been withdrawn.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, pes planus, and bunions of the feet were denied due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for her cervical spine degenerative disc disease (DDD), finding that she did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under the applicable VA rating criteria.

The Board denied service connection for various hip, ankle, foot, and back disabilities due to a lack of evidence linking these conditions to the Veteran's military service. The claims were based on direct service connection.

The Veteran's claim for PTSD has been reopened and service connection is granted.,The Veteran's claims for lumbar spine, left knee, right knee, left foot plantar fasciitis, and cervical spine disabilities have been remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates and increased evaluations have been dismissed due to the withdrawal of his appeal.,The Board has remanded several issues related to service connection, effective dates, and evaluations.

The Board denied the claim for service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death due to glioblastoma multiforme, finding that none of his service-connected disabilities directly caused or contributed substantially or materially to his death. The appeal is dismissed as there was no evidence linking the glioblastoma multiforme to his service.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for cervical and lumbar spine disabilities, but has determined that additional development is needed to determine if these conditions are related to his military service.

The Veteran's service connection claim for chronic cervical spine disorder including cervico-brachial syndrome, segmental/somatic dysfunction of the cervical region, and left neural foramina encroachment at C3-C4 is granted. The Veteran's initial rating for vertigo is also granted with a 30 percent disability rating.

The Veteran's PTSD warrants a disability rating of 50 percent, but no higher. The left ear hearing loss does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating. Multiple service connection claims are remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for cervical and lumbar spine conditions, finding that the Veteran's symptoms are related to his military service.,Service connection was also denied for a heart condition due to insufficient evidence of exposure to Agent Orange.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been remanded due to duty-to-assist errors. The issues of prostate, erectile dysfunction, GERD, GI ulcer, and sleep condition are related to the Veteran's in-service stressors or symptoms.,The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is currently rated as noncompensable.

The Board has granted service connection for various conditions, including right wrist carpal tunnel syndrome, right elbow epicondylitis, right sciatica, and acquired psychiatric disabilities. The Veteran's reports of pain during active duty have been considered, along with her STRs, to find that these conditions are at least as likely as not related to her service.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for cervical spine degenerative joint disease with degenerative disc disease, left shoulder degenerative joint disease, and right shoulder rotator cuff tear with glenohumeral and acromioclavicular joint degenerative changes due to a lack of adequate VA opinions regarding their etiology.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection on the issues of left ankle condition, right ankle condition, bilateral pes planus (also claimed as left foot condition), respiratory condition, left shoulder condition, left knee condition, neck/cervical spine condition, and lower back/spine/thoracic spine condition have been dismissed due to withdrawal by the Veteran.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional medical opinions regarding service connection for cervical spine disability, fibromyalgia, and chronic fatigue syndrome as secondary to a service-connected lumbar spine disability.