Neck / cervical spine decisions — 2023

The Veteran's rating for migraine headaches was restored to 30 percent, and a 20 percent rating was granted for degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension, left and right hip disabilities, and a cervical spine/neck disability are remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions under the PACT Act.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for radiculopathy of the left lower extremity was dismissed. The Veteran is granted TDIU effective October 23, 2018, but no earlier.

The appeal of the claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for residual disability due to cervical spine surgery is dismissed as the issue has already been granted in full.

The Board denied a rating in excess of 20 percent for the Veteran's cervical spine degenerative joint disease, finding that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating based on forward flexion limited to 15 degrees or less.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete medical records and inadequate opinions regarding her claimed conditions. The Veteran is required to provide additional medical records, undergo VA examinations, and have their claims re-evaluated.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for cervical disability and OSA due to inadequate medical opinions regarding causation and aggravation by service-connected conditions. The case is returned for further development.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's lumbar spine, cervical spine, right knee, and bilateral foot disabilities prior to August 16, 2022. The claims are now considered resolved.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for chronic shin splints, left and right, as well as his left and right shoulder conditions, headaches, cervical spine degenerative disc disease (neck condition), radiculopathy of the upper extremities, and lumbosacral strain with degenerative disc disease. The Board found that there was no evidence of a current disability or in-service injury related to these conditions.,The Veteran's service treatment records did not show any complaints or diagnoses related to shin splints, shoulder conditions, headaches, cervical spine issues, or upper extremity radiculopathy. Post-service VA treatment records also failed to provide such findings.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection of a cervical spine disability has been dismissed due to his death. The Board does not have jurisdiction to proceed with the case as he is deceased.

The Board has remanded the claims for a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's cervical spine disability and acquired psychiatric disabilities are related to service. The original opinions were inadequate as they did not consider the Veteran's lay statements regarding his in-service experiences.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the relationship between the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea and his service-connected disabilities, specifically cervical spine condition, residuals of traumatic head injury, and tinnitus.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for various orthopedic disabilities, including lumbar spine, cervical spine, bilateral foot, right knee, left knee, right hip, and left hip disabilities. The reasons include needing to clarify the Veteran's service in December 1995 and obtaining missing VA treatment records.

The Veteran's claims for service connection of various conditions, including shoulder, hip, ankle, and spine issues, are being remanded due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the relationship between these conditions and his service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection have been denied. The issues of cervical strain, lumbar spine degenerative disc disease with degenerative arthritis, right knee strain, left knee strain, right finger joint condition with rheumatoid and stiffness (right finger condition), left finger joint condition with rheumatoid and stiffness (left finger condition), right wrist rheumatoid arthritis (right wrist condition), left wrist rheumatoid arthritis (left wrist condition), left ankle condition, cardiac condition, and skin condition have been remanded for further evaluation.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including traumatic brain injury and other conditions such as narcolepsy, irritable bowel syndrome, chronic sinusitis, tension headaches, right shoulder strain with shoulder impingement syndrome, left shoulder strain with shoulder impingement syndrome, lower back strain, cervical neck strain, bilateral plantar fasciitis, tinnitus, right 4th metacarpal fracture with scar, allergic rhinitis, shin splints of the left and right lower extremities, right eye strabismus, left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome, and right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome, have prevented him from securing or following substantially gainful employment for the appeal period prior to August 13, 2019.

The appeal for service connection for a back disability has been dismissed as the claim was fully granted in an October 2022 rating decision. The appeals for service connection for lesion of the scalp, left shoulder disability, right shoulder disability, right elbow disability, and right foot disability are remanded due to duty-to-assist errors.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's cervical spine disorder and low back disorder, finding that there is a causal relationship between these conditions and his military service.

The Board denied service connection for degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine, lumbar spine, left knee injury pain, and right knee osteoarthritis with meniscal tear.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability, including spondylosis and scoliosis, as well as his cervical spine disability, are remanded for further development.