Neck / cervical spine decisions — 2023

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a cervical spine disability, finding that it did not manifest in-service or within one year of separation and is not shown to be causally related to an in-service event, injury, or disease. The Board also found no evidence of aggravation by his service-connected low back disability.

The Board has denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and a neck disability. The case is remanded for further development.

The Board has granted service connection for degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine and degenerative changes of the left hip and left knee, finding that these conditions are related to service.

The Board has found that the Veteran does not have neuropathy of either upper extremity and is therefore denying service connection for this condition. The cervical spine, lumbar spine, left elbow, right elbow, left shoulder, and right shoulder disorders are remanded for further review.

The Veteran's fibromyalgia is granted an initial rating of 40 percent, and a separate compensable rating of 30 percent for headaches. The lumbosacral spine disability remains at 20 percent, while the cervical spine disability is denied any increase beyond the current 10 percent.

The Board has determined that the VA examinations and opinions are inadequate for rating purposes, necessitating further examination to determine the etiology of the Veteran's conditions.

The Board has remanded the claims for increased rating and entitlement to TDIU due to deficiencies in the VA examination provided. The Veteran needs to provide updated treatment records, undergo a VA examination, and have their service-connected conditions evaluated.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current neck disability is proximately due to or aggravated by his service-connected left shoulder disability, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from securing or following substantially gainful employment, as he has maintained and is capable of maintaining such employment throughout the appeal period.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to incomplete examination reports and further development is required.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's cervical spine disability is related to service, including his reported falls during service. However, the medical opinions provided are insufficient for the Board to make a fully informed evaluation regarding secondary and aggravation service connection claims. Therefore, another remand is required.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent for chronic bronchitis is denied. The initial ratings for PTSD are granted at 70 percent since July 18, 2013 and the TDIU claim is granted effective July 18, 2013. Other service connection claims are remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for various lower extremity and spinal disorders due to inadequate VA medical opinions. The Veteran's lay statements regarding in-service injuries are not addressed, nor is secondary service connection considered.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for additional development, including obtaining VA medical records and providing information about the qualifications of the VA examiners who examined him.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a cervical spine disorder, finding that it did not manifest in service or within one year thereafter and is not otherwise causally related to her military service. The Board also found no evidence of continuity of symptomatology since service.

The Board has granted service connection for a cervical spine disability and dystonia of the supraclavicular, cervical, and scapulothoracic regions.

The Veteran's tinnitus was granted service connection, but his bilateral hearing loss and right knee/lumbar/cervical spine disabilities were denied. The cases for the right knee, lumbar spine, and cervical spine are remanded.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have any of the claimed disabilities, and thus service connection is denied for all issues on appeal.

The Veteran's claims for an increased rating for his service-connected cervical spine disability and TDIU are being remanded to allow for extraschedular consideration.

The Veteran's bilateral ankle disability, floaters in both eyes as secondary to service-connected bilateral eye lattice degeneration, recurrent left parotid cyst, status-post left inguinal hernia repair, cervical spine disability, and bilateral pes planus have all been denied by the Board.,No compensable ratings were granted for any of these conditions.