Neck / cervical spine decisions — 2023

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including new VA examinations to assess the severity of his service-connected knee and hip disabilities. The issues include seeking increased disability ratings for right and left knee conditions, as well as a cervical spine condition.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient opinions regarding his psychiatric, skin, neurological, digestive, and genitourinary disabilities. The orthopedic claims are also being remanded.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions and examinations regarding his claimed conditions, including bronchitis, bladder dysfunction, chronic pain, cervical spine strain, right upper extremity radiculopathy, and left upper extremity radiculopathy. The claims will be further evaluated based on the results of these examinations.

The Board has granted service connection for upper and lower back disabilities, but remanded the claims for first rib disability, right shoulder disability, and neck disability due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's cervical spine disability is granted as service-connected, with the condition being related to his military service.,Service connection for right and left pes planus is also granted.

The Board has remanded several claims for further examination and opinion regarding the Veteran's service connection requests, including those for CFS, hypertension, cervical spine disability, right shoulder disability, left shoulder disability, right knee disability (secondary to bilateral pes planus), and costochondritis.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's eligibility for financial assistance in the purchase of an automobile or other conveyance and/or adaptive equipment. The Veteran is service-connected for several disabilities, but none are directly related to his request for benefits.

The Veteran's tinnitus is rated at the maximum schedular rating of 10 percent, and a higher rating is not warranted.,The Board has determined that additional examination and analysis are needed to determine if service connection for cerebrovascular accident (stroke) residuals, right lower extremity radiculopathy, left lower extremity radiculopathy, an acquired visual disability, a prostate disability, a cervical spine disability, a gallbladder disability, appendicitis residuals, and osteoporosis is warranted.

The Veteran's bilateral hip disability and cervical spine disability, including strain and radiculopathy, are granted as secondary to his service-connected lumbar spine disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to inadequate medical opinions and duty-to-assist errors. The claims will be reconsidered with new evidence and evaluations.

The Board denied earlier effective dates for service connection of lumbosacral strain, cervical disc bulge, and left upper extremity radiculopathy due to lack of evidence before the May 2006 rating decision that could be interpreted as a claim.

The Veteran's cervical spine disability is granted as service connected. The pelvis condition and urological condition of left varicocele and hydrocele are remanded for further review.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings have been remanded due to the need for additional VA examinations. The current evidence does not meet the criteria for a higher rating under any applicable diagnostic codes.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for lumbar spine disability, cervical spine disability, and PTSD due to issues with the factual basis of a VA examination report and the need to address the Veteran's statements regarding symptom onset.

The Veteran's migraine headaches are rated at 50 percent, the maximum rating available under VA regulations.,VA has remanded cases regarding cervical spine conditions, left knee arthritis, right knee patellofemoral syndrome, and tinnitus for further evaluation.

The Board has remanded the claims for additional medical opinions to determine if the Veteran's disabilities are related to his service-connected conditions or if they were caused by other factors. The claims will be returned after further development.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for cervical spine disability, bilateral hip disabilities, and bilateral knee disabilities due to lack of adequate medical opinions addressing the Veteran's contentions regarding the onset of his conditions.

The Board has reopened the claims for service connection for a back disability, cervical spine disability, and lumbar spine disability. The claim for right shoulder disability is remanded due to new evidence submitted.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings was partially granted, with a remand ordered to obtain additional medical evidence and conduct further examinations.

The Veteran's GERD is rated as 10 percent disabling. The Board finds that the evidence does not support a finding of considerable impairment of health due to his GERD, and thus denies an evaluation in excess of 10 percent. For his thoracolumbar condition (low back disability) and cervical strain, the Veteran's claim is remanded for additional examination.