Neck / cervical spine decisions — 2023

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a neck disability and TDIU due to service-connected disabilities. The evidence did not show that his current neck disability was related to service or any other service-connected condition, nor did it demonstrate continuity of symptomatology since service.

The Board has remanded the claims for further development due to inadequate compliance with previous remand directives. The Veteran's right knee disability is alleged to have caused or aggravated his claimed disabilities, including lumbar spine, cervical spine, left hip, right hip, and left knee disabilities.

The Board has remanded the claims for a lumbar spine disability, cervical spine disability, and gouty arthritis due to inadequate medical opinions. The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder is denied as it is not related to service or a service-connected condition.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinions and the need for additional VA clinical records. The Veteran's cervical spine disability is being evaluated again, with a focus on whether it is related to service-connected right shoulder and bilateral foot disabilities.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various disabilities, finding no probative evidence linking these conditions to his active service.

The Board has accepted the Veteran's appeal as to the timeliness of his substantive appeal for TDIU and has determined that he is unemployable due to service-connected disabilities. The rating assigned is 90 percent, effective from the date of the February 2016 NOD.

The Veteran's bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome was granted service connection as it manifested to a compensable degree within the first post-service year. The claims for neck disability and insomnia were remanded due to lack of evidence in the record.

The Board has granted service connection for a cervical spine disability and a bilateral ankle disability, finding that these conditions are related to the Veteran's active service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were generally granted, with some issues remanded. The Veteran was awarded a TDIU based on his cervical spine disability.

The appeal has been dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his claim for HIV. The claims of service connection for neck, low back, right knee, left knee, and left shoulder disabilities have been remanded due to new and material evidence.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for the issues of entitlement to a disability rating in excess of 20 percent for cervical spine degenerative joint disease prior to September 26, 2013; entitlement to an initial disability rating in excess of 20 percent for right upper extremity radiculopathy; entitlement to an initial disability rating in excess of 20 percent for left upper extremity radiculopathy; and entitlement to a TDIU prior to September 26, 2013.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to potential Gulf War exposure, and a new VA examination is needed to determine if his symptoms are related to active service.

The Veteran's radiculopathy of the right lower extremity is currently rated at 10 percent, but a higher rating is not warranted.,The Veteran's degenerative joint and disc disease of the cervical spine is currently rated at 10 percent, and no higher rating is warranted.,The Veteran's degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine is currently rated at 10 percent, and no higher rating is warranted.

The Board has denied the Veteran's service connection claims for skin condition, cervical spine disability, left knee disability, and right knee disability. The cervical spine and bilateral knee disabilities are remanded due to inadequate opinions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for cervical and lumbar spine disabilities, including as secondary to service-connected migraine headaches. The VA examinations provided were deemed inadequate due to a lack of review of relevant medical records and incomplete physical examination.

The Board denied service connection for cervical strain and degenerative joint disease, lumbar strain and degenerative joint disease, right hip bursitis, and lower extremity sciatica as these conditions are not related to the Veteran's active service or a service-connected condition.

The Veteran's appeals for earlier effective dates for his cervical and lumbar spine disabilities have been dismissed because the Veteran withdrew his appeal in October 2019.

The Board has denied service connection for PTSD due to the lack of a current diagnosis. Service connection is remanded for cervical spine and headache disabilities.

The Board has remanded the cases for further examinations and consideration of service connection claims due to lack of recent evaluations.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for PTSD, a rating in excess of 10 percent for cervical strain disability, TDIU, and SMC based on aid and attendance due to issues with the VA examinations and incomplete medical records.