Neck / cervical spine decisions — 2023

The Veteran's chronic adjustment disorder was granted service connection. The Board also remanded several other issues for further examination and opinion.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a neck disability, finding that there was no evidence of a nexus between her current condition and active duty service or a service-connected disability. The decision also found insufficient evidence to support secondary service connection based on her left shoulder impingement syndrome.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining an addendum opinion regarding whether the Veteran's cervical spine disability is related to service and if it is secondary to his service-connected invertebral disc syndrome. The TDIU claim is also being remanded as it is intertwined with the service connection issue.

The Board has granted service connection for a neck disability and a back disability, both diagnosed as degenerative joint and disc disease. The decision is based on the Veteran's assertions of in-service onset and continuity of symptoms.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and examination to determine if service connection can be established for residuals of a traumatic brain injury, bilateral hearing loss disability, and neck disability.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered her unable to secure or follow any form of substantially gainful employment, and the Board has granted entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Board has dismissed all the claims related to the Veteran's service-connected conditions as the appellant died during the appeal process.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and to resend a copy of the April 28, 2023 SSOC to the Veteran at his correct address.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient opinions regarding whether the Veteran's neck disability is aggravated by his service-connected lumbar spine disability. The claim will be reviewed again with additional development.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine the Veteran's need for regular aid and attendance, his housebound status due to service-connected disabilities, and if his condition has worsened since the last examination. The decision will be based on the updated evidence.

The Veteran's sciatic nerve radiculopathy and lumbar disability have been granted increased ratings of 40 percent from March 1, 2016 to October 29, 2018. The cervical disability has also been granted an increased rating.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for SMC based on the need for regular aid and attendance or housebound status, as his disability picture does not render him bedridden or in need of constant care.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for cervical strain, left knee strain, and right knee strain remain denied. The claim for service connection for lumbar disc disease is remanded due to the need for a VA examination.

The Veteran's lumbar strain disability is granted service connection. Service connection for sleep apnea, tinnitus, right knee disability, cervical spine disability, right shoulder disability, and left shoulder disability are denied.

The Veteran's claimed cervical spine disability, cervicogenic headaches, and neuropathy of the lower extremities are not service-connected as they are not related to his military service or a pre-existing condition aggravated by service. The Board is bound by the RO's favorable finding that the Veteran served as a dental specialist with a moderate probability of acoustic trauma.

The Board has restored the original ratings of 40 percent for lumbar spine disability and 30 percent for cervical spine disability, finding that the reduction in evaluations was not proper due to inadequate examination reports.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to inadequate medical opinions and failure to address all required elements in the prior remands. The issues of low back, cervical spine, right knee, left hip, and right hip disabilities are being reviewed again.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete development and need for an addendum medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's cervical spine disability. The matter will be returned after compliance with appellate procedures.

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

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for cervical spine and low back disabilities due to insufficient medical nexus opinions. The RO is instructed to obtain addendum opinions addressing the nature and etiology of these disabilities.