Neck / cervical spine decisions — 2023

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient notice and development, particularly regarding his claim for PTSD based on in-service personal assault. The cervical pain claim is also being remanded.

The Board has dismissed the issues of service connection for left and right leg disabilities as they have been granted. The issue of service connection for bilateral hearing loss is remanded due to incomplete VA examination results, and the issue of service connection for cervical spine disability is remanded due to an inadequate opinion.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for a lumbar spine, cervical spine, and acquired psychiatric disorder. The right knee increased rating claim is also being remanded.,The Veteran's TDIU request is inextricably intertwined with these other claims.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for hypertension and cervical spine disorder due to insufficient opinions regarding whether these conditions are related to service or secondary to other service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings have been granted. The Veteran is now entitled to a 10 percent rating for left hip limitation of extension, a 10 percent rating for right hip limitation of extension, a 40 percent rating for left hip flexion from May 18, 2016, and a 30 percent rating for right hip flexion from May 18, 2016.

The Veteran's degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine is granted as incurred in service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating due to individual unemployability (TDIU) as his service-connected conditions did not render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a cervical spine disability was denied, and his PTSD was granted an increased rating to 70 percent. The appeal is remanded for further development regarding other issues.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection and TDIU due to a lack of evidence showing that his cervical spine disability had its onset during or was otherwise related to his active service.

The Veteran's OSA is granted as secondary to her service-connected PTSD with obesity. The ratings for her neck and back disabilities remain at 20 percent.

The Board denied an increased rating for the Veteran's neck disability, finding that the evidence did not show forward flexion of the cervical spine at 15 degrees or less, which is required for a higher rating.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for BUE peripheral neuropathy is remanded due to the need for further development, including an addendum VA examination and consideration of all theories of service connection.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection and rating issues have been dismissed due to her withdrawal of the appeal.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened, but further development is needed to determine the nature and etiology of her current disabilities.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the relationship between the Veteran's conditions and his enlarged navicular tuberosities.

The Board has found that there has not been substantial compliance with the November 2022 remand directives regarding the remaining claim for service connection for a cervical spine injury. Therefore, the Board finds that an additional remand is warranted.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for left shoulder and cervical spine disorders due to insufficient evidence regarding their etiology.

The Board denied service connection for a thoracolumbar spine disorder, finding that the Veteran's current diagnoses of acquired thoracolumbar spine arthritis and degenerative disc disease are not etiologically related to or attributable to service.

The Veteran's left shoulder and right shoulder disorders, as well as his degenerative arthritis of the thoracolumbar spine and cervical spine disorder are all found to be related to service. The Veteran has been granted service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral foot disabilities, cervical spine disability, lumbar spine disability, bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy, bilateral shoulder disabilities, and bilateral knee disabilities are dismissed. The remaining issues of service connection have been remanded.