Neck / cervical spine decisions — 2024

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for headaches and a cervical spine disability due to insufficient evidence regarding whether his service constituted combat status under 38 U.S.C. § 1154(b).

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for left shoulder, neck, right wrist, and left wrist disabilities due to a lack of consideration of all relevant evidence.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to errors in obtaining clarification of the Veteran's dates of service and for new medical opinions regarding the etiology of her claimed conditions.

The Veteran withdrew all issues on appeal, including those related to lumbar spine strain, cervical spine strain, left foot strain, right foot strain, migraines, hearing loss, anxiety condition, tinnitus, and gastroesophageal reflux disorder (GERD).

The Veteran's cervical stenosis spondylosis and myelopathy are related to his active military service, resulting in a grant of service connection.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a neck disability, finding that there is no evidence of any current cervical spine disability related to his military service.

The Veteran's tension headaches are rated at 50 percent, effective from the date of the decision. The Veteran's cervical disc herniation is granted a 20 percent rating until October 7, 2014.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection of a back condition, cervical spine condition, and left arm or shoulder condition due to lack of new and relevant evidence.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's cervical spine disorder, finding that it is proximately due to his service-connected left shoulder disability.

The Veteran's service-connected cervical stenosis with myelopathy and myelomalacia is granted secondary to his service-connected lumbosacral strain with IVDS. The rating for lumbosacral strain with IVDS remains at 20 percent, but a separate compensable rating is granted for neurological impairment of the right lower extremity. Ratings for left hip degenerative arthritis are also granted.

The Veteran's IBS, cervical spine disability, right shoulder disability, and unspecified depressive disorder are granted service connection. The Veteran's sinusitis is also granted service connection on a presumptive basis under the PACT Act. An increased evaluation of 30 percent for unspecified depressive disorder is granted.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions. The decision on whether he is entitled to a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss, as well as his entitlement to TDIU based on service-connected disabilities, remains pending.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's cervical spine, lumbar spine, bilateral shoulder, bilateral hip, left knee, and left ankle disabilities. The claims are remanded to consider a right ankle disability.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for diabetes mellitus, thoracolumbar spine disability, and cervical spine disability due to a lack of hearing before the AOJ.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to new evidence received, including from the PACT Act. The Veteran's psychiatric disability is granted as secondary to a service-connected thyroid disability.

The Board has determined that remand is necessary for the Veteran's claims of service connection for plantar fasciitis and cervical spine degenerative joint disease due to duty-to-assist errors.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not result in physical loss or permanent use of hands or feet, severe vision impairment, burn injury, or ALS. Therefore, the criteria for automobile or other conveyance and adaptive equipment benefits are not met.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for cervical spondylosis and strain, lumbar spine degenerative arthritis, left knee osteoarthritis, and right knee osteoarthritis due to a lack of corroborating service treatment records in the Veteran's case.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's cervical spine intervertebral disc syndrome, finding that it is related to his in-service back injury and resolving all doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have precluded him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment throughout the appeal period, leading to a grant of TDIU as of May 20, 2021.