Neck / cervical spine decisions — 2023

The Board has granted service connection for cervical spine degenerative disc disease and remanded the claims for diabetes mellitus, type II, a left shoulder disability, and a higher rating for lumbar strain.

The Veteran was granted a TDIU on an extraschedular basis for the period prior to December 9, 2013 due to his service-connected disabilities preventing him from securing or following substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's PTSD had a factually ascertainable increase in disability as of December 30, 2015. The Board granted a 100 percent rating for PTSD effective from that date. Service connection was denied for a cervical spine/neck disorder and remanded for further examination and opinion regarding migraine headaches, herpes simplex virus, obstructive sleep apnea, and TDIU.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for migraine headaches, lumbar spine disability, back scar, and cervical spine disability prior to October 23, 2018. The case is remanded for further development.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's cervical spine disability, including degenerative disc disease, is related to his service-connected lumbar spine disability and remanded for further development.

Service connection is granted for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus.,The Veteran's current low back condition, neck condition, right shoulder condition, and gastrointestinal disorder are all remanded for further evaluation.

The Veteran's cervical spine, right and left upper extremity radiculopathy, lumbar spine arthritis, bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy, and left hip disability have been granted increased ratings.

The Veteran was granted a TDIU prior to March 3, 2018. The Board has also remanded the issue of entitlement to a TDIU from March 3, 2018 for referral to VA's Director of Compensation Service for extraschedular consideration.

The Board has remanded the service connection claims for neck and back disabilities due to insufficient opinions regarding the onset of symptoms during service.

The Board denied the claim for service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death, finding that cervical cancer was not related to her military service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection of lumbar and cervical spine disabilities was reopened on May 26, 2009. Effective from that date, the Veteran is granted a disability rating of 40% for his lumbar spine disability.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for thyroid cancer and cervical spine degenerative arthritis, bulging discs, status-post surgical residuals due to incomplete records and insufficient nexus opinions.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a cervical spine disorder, finding that there is no evidence of chronicity in service or within the applicable presumptive period. The Board also found that the current cervical spine disorder is not related to service.

The Board denied service connection for a cervical spine (neck) disability, finding that the Veteran's current condition did not have an onset during active service and was not caused or aggravated by any service-connected disability.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have not prevented him from securing and following substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development regarding his cervical spine disability, left shoulder disability, and respiratory disorder.

The Board has found that the Veteran's cervical spine disorder is not related to service and remanded for further examination. Service connection for a lumbar spine disorder and nerve damage associated with a lumbar spine disorder remains denied.

The Veteran's initial rating for cervical spine arthritis is granted at 30 percent, effective prior to April 14, 2021.,A higher rating of more than 30 percent for cervical spine arthritis from April 14, 2021, is denied.

The Veteran's service connection claim for a disability of the cervical spine is granted. The Board finds that it is at least as likely as not related to his duties as a KC-135 refueling boom operator during his military service.

Service connection is granted for tinnitus, posttraumatic headaches, sleep apnea, cervical spine degenerative disc disease with neck sprain, right upper extremity radiculopathy, and left upper extremity radiculopathy.,The effective date for service connection of these conditions ranges from April 27, 2016 to September 20, 2017.