Neck / cervical spine decisions — 2023

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for cervical spine DDD, left upper extremity radiculopathy, and right upper extremity radiculopathy due to inadequate examination reports and new evidence.

The Veteran's request to reopen a previously denied claim of service connection for a neck disability is granted, and she is also granted service connection for cervical strain with intervertebral disc syndrome and left upper extremity radiculopathy. The claim for service connection for a left shoulder disability is remanded.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for a lumbar spine disability and remanded it. The cervical spine disability claim is also remanded due to inextricability with the lumbar spine disability claim.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been granted, but further evaluations are needed to determine the appropriate ratings and effective dates.

The Board has remanded the cases for further examination and opinion regarding whether the Veteran's left eye disability and neck disability are related to his active service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various musculoskeletal conditions due to insufficient medical opinions addressing continuity of symptomatology from service.

The Board has granted service connection for left shoulder, right shoulder, and neck disabilities. The Veteran's current disabilities are considered to be related to in-service injuries.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his cervical spine and knee injuries, are found to have contributed substantially or materially to cause the Veteran's death. As a result, DIC benefits based on service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death are granted.

The Board denied service connection for a low back disability and neck disability, finding no evidence of such conditions being incurred in or related to service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for extraschedular ratings for his cervical spine disability and residuals of a stress fracture of the left tibia, finding that the disabilities are adequately addressed by the applicable diagnostic codes and do not show exceptional or unusual factors impacting employment.

The Board has granted service connection for cervical spine disability and assigned a separate initial 20 percent rating, but no higher, for left knee instability. The Veteran's increased ratings for left and right knee disabilities are denied.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is granted with a 20 percent rating from February 24, 2017 to July 9, 2020. The remaining issues are remanded for further evaluation.

The Board denied service connection for a cervical spine disability, residuals of a discectomy scar, and neurological disability of the left upper extremity (claimed as left cubital tunnel syndrome).,There is no evidence to support that any of these conditions are related to active duty service.,The Veteran's cervical spine condition was not caused by or aggravated by his service-connected cervical spine disability.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings on multiple service-connected disabilities, including cervical radiculopathy, degenerative joint disease of the neck and shoulder, PTSD, and arthritis of the wrist, is remanded due to need for additional examinations. Additionally, his claim for service connection for arthritis of the joints, potentially related to exposure in Southwest Asia, is also remanded.

The VA has awarded a 30 percent rating for cervical spine disability effective May 25, 2016. The appellant's claim was received within one year of the Intent to File.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including posttraumatic headaches, right shoulder bursitis, thoracolumbar spine osteoarthritis, left shoulder bursitis (prior to March 18, 2015), knee arthritis, hand degenerative joint disease, ankle strains, and cervical osteoarthritis, rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment prior to September 22, 2017. The Board granted the Veteran's TDIU claim based on this evidence.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's back disability but has remanded the claim for a neck disability, as it is unclear whether the current neck condition pre-existed service or was aggravated by the service-connected back disability.

The Veteran's claims for hypertension and bilateral hernias have been dismissed. The previously denied claims of service connection for DJD of the thoracic/lumbar spine, bilateral knees, prostatitis, and GERD have been reopened due to new evidence. Service connection is granted for DJD of the thoracic/lumbar spine, cervical spine, left knee, and right knee.

The Board has granted service connection for cervical spine disability, left upper and lower extremity neuropathy, and right upper and lower extremity neuropathy. The decisions are based on the Veteran's reported symptoms and medical evidence linking these conditions to his service-connected musculoskeletal conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for right knee chondromalacia, neck cervical stenosis, and an acquired psychiatric disability (PTSD, anxiety and insomnia). The Veteran's headaches and swallowing disabilities are remanded for further examination.