Neck / cervical spine decisions — 2023

The Veteran's appeals for increased disability ratings have been dismissed as the appellant requested withdrawal of all claims.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is granted, with the effective date being January 14, 2021.,The Veteran's initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss prior to January 12, 2021, and a rating in excess of 40 percent from that date onwards are both remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, but has remanded the cases of obstructive sleep apnea, dental condition, hypertension, left eye disability, low back disability, esophageal hernia, and cervical spine disability.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate opinions regarding service connection for a cervical spine condition, including cervical strain and degenerative joint disease (DJD) of the cervical spine. The Veteran's claim is now pending again with instructions for further development.

The Board has granted service connection for a cervical spine condition, but the matter of residuals of a right-side injury is remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has denied service connection for a cervical spine disability, including degenerative joint disease, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are more likely due to age-related degeneration rather than an in-service injury.

The Board has granted the Veteran's petition to reopen his claim of service connection for a neck condition (cervical spondylosis) and has determined that he is entitled to service connection for this disability.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for right knee, neck, and right shoulder disabilities due to a lack of medical evidence supporting his assertions that these conditions were caused by in-service events.

The Board denied service connection for the Veteran's claimed disabilities of the cervical spine, left and right shoulders, and knees as secondary to his service-connected foot and ankle disabilities due to lack of a causal relationship.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and proceedings, including obtaining a retrospective medical opinion regarding the severity of the Veteran's service-connected cervical spine disability during specific time periods.

The Veteran's anxiety disorder is rated at 50 percent, costochondritis with thoracolumbar lumbar strain at 40 percent, cervical spine degenerative disc disease at 30 percent, left upper extremity radiculopathy at 20 percent, and migraines at 10 percent. All other claims are denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a bilateral ankle disability, an upper back disability, and a neck disability due to inadequate examination reports. The Veteran is already service connected for radiculopathy related to degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, but he contends that his current disabilities are secondary or aggravated by this condition.

The Board has remanded the cases due to insufficient evidence regarding the onset and etiology of the Veteran's neck disability, including degenerative joint disease (DJD), and whether his right upper extremity radiculopathy is secondary to his neck disability. The cases will be returned for further development.

The Board has remanded the case due to new evidence and a need for an opinion regarding whether the Veteran's service-connected low back disability might aggravate his neck condition.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for left foot, right hip, bilateral shoulder, and cervical spine disabilities due to inadequate compliance with previous remand directives.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current cervical spine disorder is related to her military service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has remanded three claims: neck disability, right knee disability, and nerve disability affecting the right upper extremity. The claims are being returned for further development.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's cervical spine disability, including a lack of adequate response to requests for information about the VA examiner who conducted the August 2017 examination.

The Board has remanded the cases due to lack of substantial compliance with previous directives. The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder and lumbosacral or cervical strain are both being reviewed for service connection.

The Board has denied service connection for lumbar spine, cervical spine, neurological disability of the lower extremities, left upper extremity neuropathy, right upper extremity neuropathy, and vertigo as there is no evidence that these conditions are related to service.