Neck / cervical spine decisions — 2023

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to the need for additional VA treatment records.

The Board dismissed the appeals regarding earlier effective date of service connection for tinnitus, service connection for bilateral hearing loss, and several hernia and knee disorders due to the Veteran's withdrawal.

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable disability rating for his cervical spine scar was granted with an effective date of February 27, 2017. The appeals for all other issues were dismissed due to withdrawal by the Veteran.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for PTSD and a cervical spine disability, as well as his service connection claim for bone cancer are remanded due to incomplete examinations and lack of information on the competency of VA examiners. Additionally, a temporary total rating based on convalescence (based on surgery for bone cancer) and TDIU claims are also remanded.

The Board has remanded the case due to lack of substantial compliance with previous remand directives and insufficient development of evidence. The Veteran's claim for service connection for a spine disability, including cervical and lumbar spine disabilities, secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus type II is being returned for further action.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for restoration of his former 20 percent ratings for left and right upper extremity radiculopathy disabilities associated with cervical spine disability, effective December 1, 2018. The TDIU claim is also granted.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for right shoulder disability, cervical spine disability, residuals of frostbite in the left ear, and residuals of frostbite in the right ear. However, these claims are still being remanded as there is insufficient evidence to determine if any of these conditions are related to service.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to inadequate VA examinations. The Veteran's claims for service connection for thoracolumbar spine, cervical spine, and right foot disabilities are currently pending.

The Board has remanded the claims for additional development due to new evidence submitted by the Veteran, including private medical records and a statement from her primary care physician. The Veteran's service connection claims are related to her duties as a cargo handler in the Air Force Reserve.

The Board denied service connection for a lumbar spine condition and cervical spine condition. Service connection was granted for sinusitis due to burn pit exposure under the PACT Act, but not under any other theory of entitlement.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine is related to her service, including a September 1982 fall and lifting incident in May 1984. The appeal for service connection is granted.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted service connection. The issues of bilateral hearing loss, right knee disability, left knee disability, cervical spine disability, and thoracolumbar spine disability are remanded for further development.

The Board denied service connection for a right hand disability other than cervical radiculopathy of the right upper extremity.,The Board also denied entitlement to a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has remanded the claims for a cervical spine disability, hysterectomy, and lymphedema due to insufficient evidence. The Veteran's claim for lymphedema requires further examination by VA.

The Board has remanded the appellant's claims for service connection due to incomplete processing of his supplemental claim and failure to issue a statement of the case (SOC).

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have precluded substantially gainful employment consistent with his education and occupational experience, warranting a TDIU from March 29, 2016.

All issues related to service connection, increased ratings, and TDIU have been dismissed due to final adjudication or ongoing development.

The Veteran's claims for service connection of left shoulder, right shoulder, and neck disabilities are remanded. Additionally, the temporary total rating for right shoulder surgery and financial assistance for automobile or other conveyance and adaptive equipment or adaptive equipment only are also remanded.

The Veteran's application to reopen the claim for service connection for hypertension has been granted.,The Veteran's application to reopen the claim for service connection for a cervical spine disability has been denied. The case is remanded for further review.

The Board has granted service connection for neck disability, bilateral hand CTS, bilateral knee disabilities, and OSA. Service connection is also granted for diabetes mellitus, type II.