Neck / cervical spine decisions — 2023

The Veteran's service-connected conditions do not render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment prior to December 1, 2014. The issue of TDIU is denied as the evidence does not show that his disabilities preclude him from securing and maintaining gainful employment.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left knee, jaw, back and neck disabilities were not incurred or aggravated during service. The claims are being remanded for further development.

The Board has denied service connection for PTSD and remanded the claim for a cervical spine disability.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to inadequate previous opinions and inextricably intertwined issues. The Veteran's representative raised theories of secondary service connection.

The Veteran's cervical spine disability is not rated higher than 10 percent prior to May 3, 2017 and from May 3, 2017. The evidence does not support a finding of more severe symptoms or impairment.

The Veteran's cervical spine disability was rated at 10% prior to October 13, 2016. The Board denied an increased rating for this condition. A separate 20% rating was granted for moderate left knee instability effective February 6, 2008.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss claim is denied as he does not have a current disability for VA purposes.,Service connection is granted for the lumbar spine disability, right lower extremity radiculopathy, right shoulder disability, left shoulder disability, right knee disability, and left knee disability. Service connection is also granted for the cervical spine disability.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various disabilities, including knee and leg disabilities, shoulder disabilities, and a neck disability. The VA will schedule examinations to determine the nature and etiology of these conditions and prepare dose estimates for any potential radiation exposure claims.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and examination to determine the etiology of the Veteran's claimed conditions, including alopecia, neck disability, and left leg disability. The claims are not currently decided on service connection grounds.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations to assess the severity of his right knee, left knee, and cervical spine conditions, as well as to determine if he has erectile dysfunction related to service or toxic exposure.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for lumbar spine, cervical spine, left knee, and right knee disabilities due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings of tinnitus and suprapubic and infraumbilical scar have been withdrawn.,New evidence has been submitted to reopen claims for service connection for radiculopathy, lumbar disc disease, and cervical disc disease.

The Board has granted service connection for a left shoulder disability, hypertension, and cervical spine disability. The Veteran's current diagnoses are related to his active service.,Service connection was also granted for SVT, with the presumption of soundness rebutted by clear and unmistakable evidence showing that the condition was aggravated during service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for fibromyalgia, right upper extremity cervical radiculopathy (claimed as bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome), and left upper extremity cervical radiculopathy (claimed as bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome) have been granted. These conditions are secondary to his service-connected cervical spine disability.

The Board has withdrawn several claims and has remanded one issue for further development. The Veteran's external hemorrhoids claim is also remanded.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating of 20 percent disabling, but no higher, for thoracolumbar strain from September 2, 2010 is granted. The claims for a compensable rating for cervical strain prior to March 17, 2016 and for increased ratings in excess of 10 percent disabling from March 17, 2016 to June 8, 2021, and in excess of 20 percent disabling from June 9, 2021 onward are remanded. The claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) is also remanded.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence and need for additional development, including new VA examinations and clarification of medical records.

The Veteran's claim for TDIU was denied prior to March 17, 2017 due to his service-connected orthopedic disabilities. From March 17, 2017, the Veteran has been granted a TDIU based solely on his service-connected orthopedic disabilities.,The Veteran is now eligible for SMC at the housebound rate since November 22, 2017 due to his combined rating of 100 percent and other service-connected disabilities independently ratable at 60 percent.

The Board has decided to remand the cases for additional development regarding service connection for thoracolumbar and cervical spine disorders.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for lumbosacral strain (low back pain) has been reopened. The claims for neck and back disabilities are remanded due to the need for a VA examination.