Neck / cervical spine decisions — 2023

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is granted service connection. The cervical, right knee, left knee, right hip, and left hip disabilities are not found to be related to service.

The Board has determined that additional medical opinions are needed to address the service connection claims for diabetes mellitus, heart disorder, cervical spine disorder, and lumbar spine disorder. The current VA medical opinions do not adequately address the exposure basis or provide a clear nexus opinion.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for right shoulder arthritis, left shoulder arthritis, and cervical spine arthritis due to a lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for hypertension and neck condition secondary to hearing loss and vestibular disorder due to insufficient evidence in the record regarding the relationship between these conditions and service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for cervical strain and peripheral neuropathy in the bilateral upper extremities, both secondary to service-connected degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, due to insufficient opinions from the March 2022 VA examinations.

The Board has dismissed the appeal for a left knee disability and has remanded the issues of service connection for right knee, cervical spine, and lumbar spine disabilities. The Veteran's claims are pending.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claims for service connection for neck disability, thoracolumbar spine disability, right lower extremity radiculopathy, and left lower extremity radiculopathy should be remanded due to a lack of in-person examinations. The VA is instructed to attempt to obtain these examinations from the correctional facility where the Veteran is incarcerated.

The Board has decided to remand several issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims, including GERD, left knee condition, right hip strain, thoracolumbar spine, gastric ulcer/gastritis, left talus non-displaced fracture, right ankle tendonitis, and cervical spine degenerative arthritis. The decision also includes a request for new VA examinations for these conditions.

The Veteran's service connection for cervical spine disability, bilateral upper extremity radiculopathy, and migraine headaches has been granted. The separate rating for hypertension was properly discontinued due to CUE in the January 2013 rating decision. An earlier effective date of April 13, 2016, is granted for service connection for renal failure with hypertension.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various disabilities due to inadequate nexus opinions.,Specifically, new medical opinions are needed on direct and secondary theories of entitlement.

The Board has remanded the claims for a right knee disability, back disability, and neck disability due to incomplete development. The claim for secondary service connection for a psychiatric disability is also being remanded.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and service connection have been dismissed due to his request for withdrawal of these claims.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings have been dismissed as the Veteran's authorized representative withdrew all issues on appeal in a July 2022 letter.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for cervical spine and low back conditions due to insufficient consideration of the Veteran's lay assertions regarding his carrying heavy rucksacks during service.

Your claims for service connection for a cervical spine disorder and a right knee disorder have been resolved in full. The RO has granted your claims, but the appeal is dismissed as there are no remaining issues to decide.

The Board has dismissed all service connection claims due to the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for left upper extremity cervical radiculopathy is being remanded due to the need for an addendum opinion on the etiology of his median nerve paralysis/carpal tunnel syndrome.

The Board has remanded the claims for a cervical spine disability and an inflammatory joint disease due to additional development being needed. The Veteran's service connection claim is denied as there is no persuasive evidence that his current conditions began during or are related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development and readjudication due to his failure to appear at a previously scheduled hearing, incomplete medical records, and other procedural issues.

The Board has dismissed the claims of service connection for a neck disability, entitlement to TDIU due to service-connected disabilities, and an increased rating for left knee meniscal tear. The claim for an earlier effective date for the left knee meniscal tear is also remanded.