Neck / cervical spine decisions — 2023

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection and rating increases due to incomplete records from the Peru Community Based Outpatient Clinic (CBOC) and additional evidence submitted by the Veteran. The issues of reopening a right shoulder disability claim, service connection for cervical spine and right elbow disabilities, and TDIU are also on appeal.

The Board has reopened the claims for service connection of a neck disability and left knee disability, but denied other claims due to lack of new and material evidence. The decision is mixed as some issues were granted while others were denied.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome and degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine, finding that these conditions are at least as likely as not related to military service.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection have been withdrawn. The claim for left knee disability has been reopened due to new and material evidence, but the issues of rating and secondary service connection remain pending.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and providing an addendum opinion regarding the Veteran's cervical dysplasia and CIN.

The Veteran's claim for SMC based on the loss of use of one hand and one foot is granted. The appeal for increased ratings for various Dupuytren's contracture disabilities, cervical spine conditions, and right leg radiculopathy is dismissed as moot.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a back disability and cervical radiculopathy (claimed as peripheral neuropathy of the hands), including as due to Agent Orange exposure, finding that there is no persuasive evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to conflicting opinions and need for additional medical examination.

The Board has granted service connection for degenerative arthritis of the thoracolumbar spine, cervical spine spondylosis, right hand osteoarthritis, and left hand osteoarthritis based on chronic disease presumptive service connection due to symptoms that had their onset during service and have been continuous since service separation.

The Veteran's cervical spine disability is rated at 20 percent, and the claims for increased ratings are denied.,The Veteran's radiculopathy of the right upper extremity is rated at 20 percent, and the claim for an increase to a higher rating is denied.,The Veteran's radiculopathy of the left upper extremity is rated at 20 percent, and the claim for an increase to a higher rating is denied.

The Veteran's application to reopen his claim for service connection of a cervical spine disability has been granted. Service connection is also granted for tinnitus. The Board has found the evidence insufficient to determine whether the Veteran's current cervical spine and bilateral hearing loss disabilities are related to service, or if they are caused by or aggravated by his service-connected left shoulder disability. Therefore, these claims have been remanded for further development.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the relationship between the Veteran's neck injury and her service-connected left shoulder impingement syndrome. The VA will need to provide a new opinion on whether the Veteran's current neck condition is related to her active service.

The Veteran's left shoulder sprain with tendonitis and degenerative joint disease of the cervical spine have been evaluated, but no increased ratings are granted.

The Board found that VA waived any objection to the timeliness of the filing of the Veteran's substantive appeal, and thus granted the appeal for all issues listed in the August 2016 rating decision.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for low back and mid-back disorders were denied as there was no evidence of a current disability related to service.

The Board has dismissed all service connection claims due to the death of the appellant.

Compensation for diplopia granted under 38 U.S.C. § 1151. Service connection for cervical spine disorder is remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Board denied service connection for cervical spine disability, radiculopathy of the upper and lower extremities, left knee disability, and esophageal disability (Barrett's esophagus).,Service connection was granted for cluster headaches.,TDIU claim was dismissed due to lack of response from the Veteran.

The Veteran's initial 40 percent rating for left upper extremity radiculopathy is granted. The Board finds the VA examinations inadequate and remands for further examination to determine appropriate ratings for cervical spine disability, right upper extremity radiculopathy, and left upper extremity radiculopathy. Additionally, the Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to lack of a proper medical examination.

Service connection is granted for a neck disability. The Veteran's left hip disability with painful motion, pelvic fracture, and limitation of extension are each rated at 10 percent.,An increased rating to 20 percent for the right clavicle disability was denied.