Neck / cervical spine decisions — 2023

The Board has granted service connection for low back disability, neck disability, right upper extremity radiculopathy, left upper extremity radiculopathy, right lower extremity radiculopathy, and left lower extremity radiculopathy. These conditions are deemed to have had their onset in service.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for left and right elbow disorders, as well as a claim for an increased disability evaluation for allergic rhinitis. The Veteran's current cervical spine disorder is not due to disease or injury incurred in active duty.

The Veteran's low back disability is rated at 10 percent, and the Board denied an increased rating. The TDIU claim was granted.,The Veteran meets the criteria for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to her service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is found to have started in service and has continued since then. The cervical spine, low back, and left hip disorders are remanded for additional development as the VA examiners' opinions did not consider pertinent service treatment records.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to failure to appear for VA examinations and requests that he be provided another opportunity to attend such exams. The issues include initial disability ratings for left knee meniscal tear status post-surgery, limitation of extension, and cervical strain.

The appeal seeking an increased rating for right lower extremity radiculopathy is dismissed.,Service connection for a bilateral foot disability is denied.,A rating in excess of 20 percent for the cervical spine disability is denied.

The Veteran's appeal of the issues related to obstructive sleep apnea, hepatitis C, allergies, perforated ear drum, vision disability, carpal tunnel syndrome, cervical spine, and shoulder disabilities has been withdrawn. The remaining issues have been remanded for further development.

The Board has granted reimbursement for the medical expenses incurred by the Veteran at Carthage Area Hospital on September 9, 2008, to September 10, 2008, due to his service-connected conditions and the emergency nature of his syncopal episodes.

The Board has granted the reopening of the claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus type II disorder and cervical spine disorder, but denied a rating in excess of 20 percent for service-connected lumbar spine disability.,The appeal as to the claim of entitlement to service connection for diabetes mellitus type II disorder is remanded due to new evidence indicating its onset during active service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to inadequate medical opinions and because of a need for an opinion regarding the impact of toxic exposure risk activities (TERA).

The Board has decided to remand the claims for service connection for bilateral eye disability, back disability, and cervical spine disability due to inadequate VA opinions in previous decisions. The claims will be reviewed again with new addendum opinions addressing causation and aggravation.

The Veteran's claims for effective dates prior to October 22, 2017 for the grants of service connection for PTSD, tinea versicolor, and IBS are denied.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus is granted.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for impaired vision (refractive error), neck disability, low back disability, right knee disability, and left knee disability are all denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus and a neck disorder are remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding the nature and etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's claims for tinnitus and degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine have been granted. The remaining issues, including right knee disability, left foot disability, and tingling skin of the left knee and leg, are being remanded for further evaluation.,New evidence has reopened the Veteran's claims for tinnitus and degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine, leading to their grant. However, additional evaluations are needed to determine service connection for other conditions.

The Veteran's request to reopen service connection for back problems was denied as the new evidence did not relate to the basis of the prior denial.,Service connection for a neck disability was also denied because the new evidence did not relate to the basis of the prior denial.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected lumbar and cervical spine disabilities, as well as right upper extremity radiculopathy. The reasons include inadequate examinations that did not consider flare-ups or intervertebral disc syndrome prior to December 13, 2021, and a need for another VA examination to assess the current severity of his service-connected lumbar and cervical spine disabilities.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection of cervical spine, left hip, and right big toe disabilities secondary to his service-connected left heel callous.,The VA medical opinions found no relationship between these conditions and his service-connected disability.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including bilateral tinea pedis, cervical spine condition, hypertension, headaches, hemorrhoids, OSA, sciatica of the right and left lower extremities. The Veteran's claims were remanded but not fully resolved.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for neck disability, lung disability, and left knee disability due to insufficient evidence. The claim for PTSD remains pending.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's substantive appeal was timely filed, and his claims for service connection for left wrist, right shoulder, and left shoulder disabilities as secondary to a neck disability are denied.