Neck / cervical spine decisions — 2023

The Veteran withdrew her appeal for service connection of neck disability, psychiatric disorder, hysterectomy, and tinnitus before the Board could make a decision.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left hip, right hip, and neck disabilities. The Veteran was not diagnosed with any of these conditions during his military service or post-service treatment records.,For PTSD, the Board found that the Veteran's symptoms did not meet the criteria for a higher rating than 50 percent prior to April 25, 2023, and 70 percent thereafter.

The Board has denied service connection for right shoulder, left shoulder, and cervical spine disabilities due to a lack of evidence showing these conditions began during or were aggravated by active service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for lumbar and cervical spine disabilities due to inadequate reasoning in a previous VA opinion. The case is now pending with instructions to provide a new examination or addendum opinion that addresses the January 2016 VA primary care provider's statement about aggravation, as well as lay statements from the Veteran's family members.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings are remanded due to inadequate VA examinations and the need for new evaluations of his right shoulder, cervical spine, and radiculopathy conditions.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim for a cervical spine condition due to insufficient medical evidence and the need for a VA examination.

The Board denied service connection for neck and back disabilities, finding that the evidence did not support a link to service.,Service connection was granted for diffuse muscle pain due to a MUCMI.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability, including degenerative arthritis of the spine and DDD of the thoracolumbar and cervical spine with sensory neuropathy and radiculopathy (claimed as nerve disorder/neurological signs and symptoms), is presumed to have existed prior to service. The Board found no clear and unmistakable evidence that any increase in severity occurred during service, thus denying service connection.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining a VA medical opinion on whether the Veteran's back disability is secondary to his service-connected pes planus and whether his current thoracolumbar spine disability began during active service or is related to his period of active service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his cervical and lumbar spine conditions are being remanded due to unclear examiner responses regarding range of motion, potential ankylosis, and the discontinuation of intervertebral disc syndrome (IVDS).

The Board dismissed the appeal because the RO had already granted service connection for a right hand disability, which was diagnosed as carpal tunnel syndrome.

The Board has granted service connection for cervical strain and right foot bone spur. Service connection is remanded for fibromyalgia.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for left lower extremity radiculopathy and increased ratings for cervical spine disability and migraine headaches are granted. The Veteran is also remanded for further development regarding his cervical spine disability rating, effective date claim, and migraine headaches.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings in excess of 50 percent for a psychiatric disability, 10 percent for neck disability, and 10 percent for back disability has been dismissed due to the Veteran's withdrawal of the appeal.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection and evaluation of various disabilities, including back disability, pes planus, thoracolumbar spine disability, cervical spine disability, left upper and lower extremity disabilities (including peripheral neuropathy), and lichen simplex chronicus. The Veteran's testimony and medical records indicate that these conditions may be related to his military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various ankle, hip, and knee conditions are being remanded due to insufficient medical opinions addressing the direct and secondary service connection bases.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for a lumbosacral strain are also being remanded.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for chronic diverticulitis, lumbar spine disability, and cervical spine disability was dismissed.,The Veteran's claim for PTSD with generalized anxiety disorder was granted.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's cervical spine, thoracolumbar spine, and left knee disabilities. The conditions are presumed to have been incurred during active service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a neck disability, finding that there is no evidence of in-service injury or disease and no continuity of symptoms since service. The March 2019 VA examination provided a negative nexus opinion.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for lumbar spine, cervical spine, and sleep apnea disabilities due to incomplete STRs and outstanding treatment records. The Veteran will be provided an opportunity to submit additional evidence or argument at the RO level.