Neck / cervical spine decisions — 2023

The Board has remanded the claims for peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper and lower extremities due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology. The appellant's exposure to herbicide agents is not established, so a medical opinion on early-onset presumptive service connection is needed.

The Veteran's sinusitis is granted service connection. His bilateral foot disability, including hallux valgus and plantar fasciitis, is not related to his service-connected knee disability or any other in-service injury. The cervical spine disability is denied as there is no nexus between the current condition and service. The upper extremity radiculopathy is also denied due to lack of a direct connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are inextricably intertwined with his claim for a rating increase for his back disability. Therefore, these issues have been remanded to allow for further development.

The Veteran's cervical spine disability is rated at 10 percent, and her radiculopathy of the left lower extremity is also rated at 10 percent.,Both conditions are denied as they do not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Veteran's service-connected degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine with recurrent central and left disc herniation with left extremity radicular pain, status post laminectomy and diskectomy is granted. The Board also finds that his neck disability may be secondary to his back disability.

The Veteran's claims for a right ankle disorder and increased rating for cervical strain were denied. The Board found no evidence of a current right ankle disability or cervical spine disability that was caused by service, including as secondary to any service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's neck disability, including whether it is related to service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for tension headaches, degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine and spinal stenosis, and unspecified cervical spine issues due to a lack of adequate medical opinions regarding their etiology.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a neck disability, finding that there was no evidence to support a link between his current condition and military service.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the relationship between the Veteran's cervical spine disability, bladder disability, and service.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals, and the Board dismissed all issues due to lack of allegations of error in the determinations.

The Board has denied service connection for various conditions, including bilateral eye condition, neck disability, renal/urinary condition, peptic ulcer, right shoulder condition, headaches, right middle finger injury/deformity, short extremity/right leg condition, vertigo, and sinus problems. The evidence does not establish a current disability or show an increase in severity of any pre-existing conditions noted upon entry into service.,The Veteran's claims for these conditions are denied as the medical evidence does not support the presence of diagnosed disabilities.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection of cervical spine, lumbar spine, bilateral shoulder, right hip, left hip, bilateral knee, and bilateral ankle disabilities due to a withdrawal by the Veteran's representative in June 2021.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient opinions regarding whether the Veteran's cervical spine and headache disabilities are aggravated by his active duty service, as well as their relationship to any service-connected conditions.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for a respiratory disability, hypertension, and TDIU due to potential exposure to herbicide agents and lead paint during service. Additional development is needed to verify these exposures.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for an acquired psychiatric disorder, tinnitus, dizziness, headaches (including migraines), and a neck disability due to potential issues with service connection evidence. The claims are being returned for further development.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings on his migraine headaches with vertigo, cervical spine disability, and sinus disability are being remanded due to the need for updated medical records and examinations.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's claims, including service connection for various conditions and evaluations. The additional evidence from VA will be reviewed by the AOJ.

The Veteran's service-connected pulmonary emphysema and cervical spine disorder result in his inability to maintain substantially gainful employment, meeting the criteria for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Veteran's claims for service connection related to neck, right knee, left knee, right foot, and left foot disabilities have been reopened. The claims are denied as a matter of law due to lack of evidence showing a persistent disability in service.,There is no legal basis for the assignment of a schedular evaluation in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus.