Neck / cervical spine decisions — 2023

The Veteran's cervical strain claim is remanded due to a duty-to-assist error regarding the assessment of flare-ups and range of motion measurements.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's neck and lower back disabilities, finding that there is at least equipoise of evidence in favor of a nexus to service.

The Board has granted service connection for lumbar spine stenosis, cervical spine stenosis, bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy, and bilateral foot drop. The conditions are deemed to be related to the Veteran's in-service injuries due to playing football and carrying heavy equipment.

The Board has determined that new and relevant evidence has not been submitted to warrant readjudication of the claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, right knee disability, left knee disability, cervical spine disability, and lumbar spine disability. The claims are being remanded due to a duty to assist error in the October 2018 rating decision.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to deficiencies in the previous decision, including failure to address theories of entitlement and inadequate opinions regarding tinnitus and spine disabilities.

The Board denied service connection for left knee, right knee, and cervical spine disabilities due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service.,There is no current diagnosis of a right knee disability.

The Veteran's cervical spondylosis, right shoulder rotator cuff tendonitis, left shoulder rotator cuff tendonitis, right upper extremity radiculopathy, and erectile dysfunction are all granted service connection.,The Veteran's GERD is granted an increased rating to 30 percent.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate opinions regarding the Veteran's cervical spine condition and its relationship to service, including secondary service connection for headaches and post-concussive symptoms.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete service records. The Veteran is presumed to have served with the Air Force Reserve, but his periods of active duty and training need to be verified.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for left upper extremity cervical radiculopathy prior to August 24, 2022 was granted. The claim for a higher rating after that date remains denied.

The Board has remanded the claims for cervical spine disability and lumbar spine disability due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology. The Veteran's service records do not provide clear evidence of in-service injuries or diagnoses, but he reports ongoing symptoms since his military service.

The Board denied service connection for neck and back disabilities, as well as a foot disability. Service connection was granted for sleep apnea secondary to PTSD.

The Board has determined that new evidence received after the November 2018 denial may be used to readjudicate the claims for service connection for neck, mid-back, and low back disabilities. The claims are being remanded due to a failure to notify the Veteran of scheduled VA examinations.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a cervical strain is denied as there is no evidence of an in-service injury or disease and the medical opinion does not support a direct relationship to service.,Service connection for spondylosis of the lumbar spine, radiculopathy of the right lower extremity (sciatic nerve), left knee osteoarthritis with osteophyte formation, right knee chondromalacia with degenerative changes, and right hip strain with limitation of extension are all denied as there is no evidence of an in-service injury or disease and the medical opinion does not support a direct relationship to service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of cervical spine degenerative joint disease, finding that there was no credible evidence of an in-service injury and that any current disability is not related to service.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for cervical spine, lumbar spine, and left knee disabilities, finding that these conditions are at least as likely as not related to his involvement in a motor vehicle accident during active duty.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including headaches, back pain, and knee disability, prevented him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation. The Board has granted TDIU from March 6, 2015, but the case is remanded for further evaluation of his lumbar spine disability.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for lumbar spine stenosis, cervical spine degenerative disc disease and degenerative joint disease, peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities, and peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper extremities have been denied.,Service connection cannot be established as the evidence does not show a nexus between these conditions and service.

The Board has restored the Veteran's original 20 percent rating for cervical strain with degenerative arthritis, as the reduction to a 10 percent rating was improper due to an inadequate VA examination.

The Board has granted service connection for left foot disability, right foot disability, neck disability, back disability, and sleep apnea. An initial 10 percent rating for hypertension is also granted.